Acas Releases 2009/10 Report

LONDON, August 13, 2010 - Summary:

Acas has published its report for the 2009/10 year, showing the
organisation dealt with more than 900 collective disputes and a record number
of conciliation cases

Body:

Acas' 2009/10 annual report shows that it dealt with more than 900
collective disputes in the past year. Ninety-four per cent of cases,
including high profile disputes such as Royal Mail and Milford Haven Port
Authority, were either resolved or the parties were moved towards a
resolution.

The report also shows that Acas dealt with more than 85,000 (net)
employment tribunal cases for individual conciliation
(www.acas.org.uk/index.aspx?articleid=1697), an overall increase of
13% from 2008/2009 and the highest number ever. While the figure was a record
for the year as a whole the trend is now in reverse - the number of cases
received for conciliation in the second half of 2009/10 was three per cent
lower than the equivalent period in 2008/09.

Nearly 10,000 cases were referred to pre-claim conciliation in 09/10 -
the early conciliation service which aims to resolve workplace issues before
they escalate into costly and stressful tribunal claims. In 70% of completed
cases where PCC was appropriate, tribunal claims have been avoided, saving
time and money for taxpayers, employers and workers. It is estimated that
completing employment (www.acas.org.uk/) tribunal paper work alone
costs employers on average GBP2,000 a case.

With a million calls, it was also a record year for the Acas helpline
which provides advice and guidance to employers and employees on workplace
problems. Redundancy, dismissals and discipline and grievance were the most
popular topics.

Acas continues to play a critical role in helping employers find more
creative ways to avoid redundancy and boost economic recovery with more than
20,000 employers and employees attending an Acas training course during the
year.

Ed Sweeney, Acas chair, said: "Our new free early conciliation service is
a real success story. It has contributed to the downturn in new employment
tribunal claims in the second half of the year. Employers who have used the
service tell us that they are particularly impressed by the way it resolves
disputes much more quickly than tribunal claims.

"We continue to deal first hand with the effects of recession and the
immense strain it places on workplace relations. We are seeing signs of
improvement with employers and unions taking a more pragmatic approach by
working together, looking at ways to try and save jobs and avoid redundancy.
This is in stark contrast to previous recessions."

About Acas

Acas' aim is to improve organisations and working life through better
employment relations. It provides information, advice that explains
current legislation related to employment law (www.acas.org.uk/)
training and a range of services working with employers and employees to
prevent or resolve problems and improve performance, such as its model
workplace (www.acas.org.uk/index.aspx?articleid=2806) tool. It is an
independent statutory body governed by a council consisting of the Acas chair
and employer, trade union and independent members.

    For more information about Acas or this PR, please contact:

    Lou Owen
    Media and Marketing Officer
    Acas National
    Euston Tower
    286 Euston Road
    NW1 3JJ
    +44(0)20-7271-3920
    www.acas.org.uk

For more information about Acas or this PR, please contact: Lou Owen, Media and Marketing Officer, Acas National, Euston Tower, 286 Euston Road, NW1 3JJ, +44(0)20-7271-3920