ACAS Early Conciliation

The Employment Tribunals (Early Conciliation: Exemptions and Rules of Procedure) (Amendment) Regulations 2025 comes into effect on 1 December 2025, increasing the period for Early Conciliation (EC) from 6 weeks to 12 weeks.

What is Early Conciliation?

Early conciliation is the pre-claim step for Employment Tribunal claims. An ACAS conciliator engages with the prospective claimant and the respondent to explore settlement. If settlement is not reached, ACAS issues an EC Certificate, which is required to lodge an ET1.

Why has there been a change?

Rising demand over the past year, coupled with increasingly complex disputes, has placed significant strain on the EC service. It has become increasingly common for parties to not receive correspondence from ACAS until after the 6 week period, essentially making EC ineffective. Extending the EC period from six to twelve weeks is intended to relieve that pressure.

What does this mean for you?

The increase from 6 weeks to 12 weeks means you have a greater opportunity to engage meaningfully and reach settlement before the claim is issued. 

How can we help?

If you receive notification of a claim, contact our Employment team on Employment@buxtoncoates.com or 0330 088 2275 to find out how we can assist you.