Soundbite: Changes to the Acas early conciliation period

The Employment Tribunals (Early Conciliation: Exemptions and Rules of Procedure) (Amendment) Regulations 2025 have been published yesterday in draft form.

They are due to come into force from 1 December 2025, and will increase Acas early conciliation from 6 weeks to 12 weeks.  The new period will apply to all claims where conciliation is commenced on or after 1 December 2025.

As Acas are so overstretched and often do not contact employers within the current 6 week period, this may mean conciliation will be more useful once more.  However, the downside is that employers may not find out about claims for even longer.  With the Employment Rights Bill proposing to extend time limits to 6 months, combined with the extension to conciliation, and the administrative delays at Tribunals, it means employers could be unaware of a potential claim for up to 12 months.

If you need any assistance with defending a claim, or have any questions about the changes, please get in touch with a member of the team.