Guide
ACAS Early Conciliation: What It Is and How It Works
Before you can make an employment tribunal claim, you must go through ACAS early conciliation. Here is how the process works.
What is ACAS?
ACAS (the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service) is an independent public body that provides free and impartial advice on workplace disputes. They help employees and employers resolve issues without going to an employment tribunal. Their helpline number is 0300 123 1100 and is available Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm.
What is early conciliation?
Early conciliation is a process where ACAS tries to help you and your employer reach a settlement without going to tribunal. Since 2014, you must contact ACAS before you can make most employment tribunal claims. The service is completely free and confidential. An ACAS conciliator acts as a go-between, so you do not have to speak directly to your employer during the process.
How to start the process
1. Submit a notification
Contact ACAS online or by phone. You will need to provide your details, your employer's details, and a brief description of your complaint. This starts the clock on the conciliation period.
2. ACAS contacts both parties
A conciliator will contact you and your employer separately to understand the issues and explore whether a settlement is possible. Everything discussed is confidential and cannot be used as evidence in tribunal.
3. Negotiation
If both sides are willing, the conciliator helps negotiate a settlement. This might include financial compensation, a reference, an apology, or changes to working practices. Any agreement reached is legally binding.
4. Certificate issued
Whether or not you reach an agreement, ACAS will issue an early conciliation certificate. You need this certificate number to proceed with a tribunal claim if conciliation does not resolve the matter.
Time limits
You must contact ACAS within the time limit for your tribunal claim, which is usually three months minus one day from the date of the incident or the last in a series of incidents. The conciliation period can last up to six weeks (one calendar month initially, with a possible two-week extension). The time you spend in conciliation does not count towards your tribunal deadline, so the clock effectively pauses.
This is important: if you miss the deadline to contact ACAS, you may lose your right to make a tribunal claim entirely. Do not wait. If you are unsure about dates, contact ACAS as soon as possible.
What if conciliation fails?
If conciliation does not result in a settlement, you will receive your early conciliation certificate. You then have a limited time (usually one calendar month from receiving the certificate, or the remainder of your original time limit, whichever is longer) to submit your tribunal claim. You will need to complete an ET1 form and submit it to the employment tribunal, including your ACAS certificate number.
Preparing for conciliation
The stronger your documentation, the better your position in conciliation. Have your timeline of events ready, including dates, what happened, who was involved, and any evidence you have. Know what outcome you want before the process starts. The conciliator will ask what resolution would be acceptable to you, so think about this in advance.