Discipline and grievance: the new Acas Code of Practice explained

The new legislation should provide an easy to use and efficient system for dispute resolution, enabling disputes to be resolved in the workplace before they escalate to employment tribunals. 

In theory, this should save you time, money and stress.

 

Sections 1 to 7 of the Employment Act 2008 makes the following changes:

• Existing statutory procedures for dealing with discipline, dismissal and grievance issues will be repealed.
  
• A revised Acas Code of Practice will be introduced.
  
• Tribunals will have discretionary powers to adjust awards by up to 25% if employers or employees fail unreasonably to comply with the Acas Code.
  
• Acas' to provide a free early conciliation service.
  
• Tribunals will be allowed to award compensation for financial loss in certain types of claims.
  

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Source: Forum for Private Business

www.ukba.co.uk

Employee tribunals on the rise

Age discrimination claims have risen by 27% in the last year as the recession leads to more staff cut-backs.

Source: Research by law firm Eversheads.

The European Court of Justice (ECJ) is due to decide on a landmark case this week whether the British government's decision to allow employers to force staff to retire at 65 breaches their human rights.

Hundreds of age tribunal claims have been postponed, awaiting the ECJ's decision and the ramification this will have on UK employment law.

"Too much of the discussion about age discrimination and the age regulations has focused on the issue of enforced retirement at age 65," said Chris Ball, of the Age and Employment Network.

"Age discrimination can occur at any time throughout an individual's working life and it frequently does at the recruitment stage."

Source: newbusiness.co.uk