Acas – early conciliation

The government has published draft regulations ‘The Employment Tribunals (Early Conciliation: Exemption and Rules of Procedure) (Amendment) Regulations 2025’.

The Acas early conciliation period is a mandatory step before an individual can proceed with an employment tribunal claim.

Increase from six to twelve weeks

The Regulations are due to come into force from 1 December 2025 and they will increase the standard Acas early conciliation period from six weeks to twelve weeks. The Regulations will apply to claims where early conciliation is started on or after 1 December 2025. This will allow more time for settlement discussions with a view to reducing the need for formal employment tribunal proceedings. The extended time will also provide Acas with more time to contact the parties and facilitate settlements.

Employment Rights Bill

The extension is a positive for employers who wish to avoid litigation and enable further time for settlement discussions. However, when combined with the Employment Rights Bill’s proposed extension of the tribunal limitation period to six months, the extended early conciliation period could mean employers remain unaware of potential claims for up to nine months.

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