Pre-Claim Conciliation Service
The number and extent of individual employment rights have increased dramatically. Each year a large number of claims are lodged with the Industrial Tribunal by workers and employees who allege that their employment rights have been breached. Research has shown that preparing or responding to such claims takes time, causes stress and can be costly.
On 4th April 2011 the LRA will actively identify disputes that will be most amenable to early resolution. The service is known as pre-claim conciliation.
An initial assessment will be carried out by the Agency’s helpline staff and pre-claim assistance will be offered where appropriate. Pre-claim conciliation is available for most types of workplace dispute that could lead to an industrial tribunal claim. These include complaints of Unfair Dismissal, forms of Discrimination, issues around Redundancy, Deductions from Wages, Breach of Contract and Equal Pay.
When an employer, employee, or their representative is referred to the pre-claim conciliation service they are contacted promptly by a Conciliation Officer who will talk through the problem, outline the options available, discuss the benefits of the service and answer any questions arising.
Settlement of the dispute through the Agency is a legally binding agreement between the parties. This means that no tribunal claim can then be made about the matter in question.
More information on pre-claim conciliation
To contact the Conciliation and Arbitration Department telephone 028 9032 1442 (and press Option 2)
The Labour Relations Agency Helpline can give information and advice about employment rights, but is not able to assist with preparing or presenting a claim to the tribunal. Telephone 028 9032 1442 (and press Option 1)
