"This is the beginning of the legal process to enable all potential claims to a tribunal to come to Acas first to try and settle the disagreement before a claim is lodged at a tribunal. If conciliation didn't resolve the matter an employee can still make a claim to a tribunal. "Problems at work can be a barrier to growing a business. At Acas we know that early intervention in workplace disputes avoids the stress, time and cost for all parties in employment tribunals. Early conciliation will enable workers and employers to resolve their own problems fairly and without having to face the prospect of an employment tribunal. "Today's announcement starts to underpin in legislation a new service, which we expect will begin in April 2014, that builds on our existing pre claim conciliation service. This service has been independently tested and shows that businesses save on average £3,700 compared to resolving a dispute once an employment tribunal claim has been made. And employees save on average nearly £3,000 when resolving a PCC case compared with dealing with an employment tribunal claim. "We're seeing demand for this service continue to rise and have dealt with over 23,000 pre claim conciliation cases during 2011/12. The pre claim conciliation service is currently successful in over 75% of cases - meaning that less than a quarter of cases which go through pre claim conciliation go on to be lodged with an employment tribunal. "We look forward to working with BIS over the coming months to begin implementing the new service as well as consulting on our plans with stakeholders who represent the wider interests of the workplace."
Read the full press release from Acas
TOUGHER IDENTITY CHECKS FOR CRB APPLICATIONS
6 June 2012
People applying for criminal records checks will be put through tougher identity checks from 28 May 2012.
The Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) is strengthening checks so that it is harder for people with a criminal record to hide convictions by changing their identity to hide their past. From 28 May 2012, the CRB is reducing the number of documents accepted for identity verification. Applicants will now be required to produce documents that involve undergoing tighter checks with the document issuer, such as a passport or driver's licence. The new ID checking process requires applicants to produce three ID documents from the new reduced list. If they cannot, they will be required to undergo further checks. Plans for these further checks are now being finalised. Details of how they will work will be sent to the relevant organisations shortly. Registered Bodies will have until the 31 August 2012 to phase in the new ID checking guidelines. CRB will provide all the support and advice they need in order to bring this into effect.
Read the full press release from the Home Office
NEW PLANS FOR MORE EFFICIENT WORKPLACE DISPUTE RESOLUTION
12 June 2012
Business Secretary Vince Cable has announced plans to make it easier for firms to remove under-performing workers in return for a pay-off.
CIPP Policy News Journal
12/04/2013, Page 311 of 362
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