In their latest blog, ACAS (Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service) revealed some insights from their latest helpline and early conciliation data.
Increased demand for services
They report that the demand for their services continues to trend up. Their helpline service handled around 158,500 calls in the final quarter of 2024, which is an increase of 11% on the previous quarter.
Web traffic has also increased significantly: up by nearly 20% on the previous year.
Employers proactively seeking information
They can see that employers and employees are being proactive about finding information when the law changes. There were 46,000 web sessions, a 180% increase, following the new duty on employers to prevent sexual harassment.
Main factors behind calls
The most common reasons for calls are discipline, dismissal and grievance. However, money matters seem to increasingly be a concern for employers and employees.
Analysis of work
According to ACAS, early conciliation cases have also increased in number, and there have now been consecutive increases in these for the last seven quarters. And legally complex cases are the largest proportion of their caseload since April 2023.
They report that so far the proportion of cases that do not progress to employment tribunal is remaining steady, which suggests that ACAS’s work is able to prevent two-thirds of cases from going further.
What does the future hold for employer-employee relations?
ACAS feel the future is “unpredictable”. The new Employment Rights Bill may affect both trade unions and workforces. The biggest causes of disputes lie around pay and money matters. This may increase in view of the increased National Insurance contributions due from April.
