Business Bolton

Having problems with an employee?

More than 2,000 employment tribunal claims avoided: ACAS' new PCC service is put to good use during its first six months.

Since the introduction of ACAS' Pre-Claim Conciliation (PCC) service in early April 2009, ACAS have helped businesses avoid more than 2,000 employment tribunal claims. Due to its overwhelming success, they've expanded the service to include all major types of workplace issues.

PCC is a swift and simple process that offers businesses the opportunity to save time, money and stress by tackling workplace issues early and preventing costly and stressful employment tribunals. On average, dealing with a problem through PCC takes up about three days of management and staff time compared to around 14 for a claim which proceeds to an employment tribunal. And most PCC cases take less than three weeks from start to finish, in contrast to tribunal proceedings that tend to spin out for many months.

Up to the end of october, ACAS handled 3,500 PCC referrals from the ACAS helpline. Where employers and employees have been prepared to discuss their dispute, tribunal claims have been avoided in five out of every six cases. In fact, even when the PCC service did not produce a formal settlement, only four out of ten cases progressed into a claim.

Gill McCarthy, ACAS Regional Director North West commented, "It's reassuring that ACAS' PCC service has already helped businesses save a great deal of money - particularly in this economic climate. Furthermore, the new code of practice on discipline and grievance should also help encourage better communication and relationships, ultimately making businesses and employees happier and more productive."

Ways to get in touch

If you think you have a workplace problem that could escalate into an employment tribunal claim, but want to stop it getting any further, give ACAS' helpline a call on 08457 47 47 47.