Employment-related tribunal claims: Early Conciliation
Early Conciliation is a workplace dispute resolution service provided by the LRA to employees, employers, and their representatives.
The Labour Relations Agency (LRA) provides an Early Conciliation Service to help resolve workplace disputes.
Since 27 January 2020, anyone who wishes to lodge a claim with the Industrial or Fair Employment Tribunal must first notify the LRA and discuss the option of Early Conciliation. Most potential claimants will not be able to proceed to the tribunal without at least considering this option.
This is an impartial and confidential service that is free to users and entirely voluntary - it can only go ahead if both you and the claimant (or potential claimant) agree.
You and/or the claimant may decide at any stage of the process that you want to be independently advised and/or represented. If this is the case, the LRA conciliator will conduct any subsequent discussions with the representative(s).
ET1(NI) conciliation
When the LRA is contacted by a potential claimant about a claim against you, and if the claimant agrees, an LRA conciliator will contact you and the claimant - or your respective representatives if appointed - to discuss the claim and explore the potential for settlement.
These discussions will develop in different ways according to the circumstances of each potential claim. However, they will usually involve the conciliator:
- explaining to you and the claimant what potential legal issues might arise in the claim, and pointing out how tribunals tend to look at similar situations
- outlining the procedures that tribunals follow
- discussing what you and the claimant would each like the outcome to be and whether there are any obvious grounds for settlement
- acting as a neutral channel of communication
- helping you and the claimant to draw up a legally binding settlement that you both agree with, to avoid the need for a tribunal hearing
The conciliator will remain available to help both you and your employee to resolve the potential claim should you both wish to do so, by way of an agreed settlement, at any time before the matter may be finally determined by an employment-related tribunal. Where such a settlement is not attainable, the conciliator will advise both parties of the potential to resolve the matter by way of the LRA Arbitration Scheme.
Benefits of Early Conciliation
Early Conciliation may prove to be more beneficial than having the matter decided by an employment-related tribunal because it:
Saves time and money
Responding to a tribunal claim takes a great deal of time, and if there's a tribunal hearing, you may well end up paying for legal representation.
Minimises stress
Being involved in a tribunal claim can put pressure on both the employer and the employee, and many people find defending a legal claim stressful.
Offers the prospect of a quick solution
Many cases can be dealt with in a few telephone calls or a short meeting, with agreed settlements implemented very soon afterwards.
Produces a win-win outcome
In a tribunal, someone always loses - and even if you 'win', you will not always get what you want from the process.
Leaves you and the claimant in control
You reach an agreement that has been agreed by both of you, while in the tribunal, the decision is taken out of your hands.
Resolves the dispute
Resolves the dispute to suit what both you and the claimant want, rather than what the tribunal has the power to award - for example, you could agree to provide an agreed reference, which might be more helpful to the claimant than a large cash sum.
Avoids the formality of a hearing
Although the tribunal is more informal than most courts, most people are unfamiliar and uncomfortable with legal processes.
Early settlement preserves the working relationship
Tribunal claims inevitably damage working relationships; early conciliation offers a greater opportunity for preserving and restoring the working relationship.