From 1 December, the Acas Early Conciliation period is being extended from 6 weeks to 12 weeks.
What does this mean?
When an employee is considering making an Employment Tribunal claim, they must first notify Acas. During this Acas Early Conciliation process, the time limit to bring a claim is paused.
The longer conciliation period means employees will now have more time before they need to decide whether to issue a claim, and employers may not be aware of a potential dispute for much longer.
Current time limits to bring a claim
- Most claims: 3 months from the incident plus the Acas conciliation pause
- Discrimination claims: Up to 6 months from the incident plus the Acas conciliation pause
With conciliation now extended to 12 weeks, employers could be unaware of a claim for a significantly longer period.
Why does it matter?
For small businesses, this change increases:
- The risk of historic issues coming back later
- The importance of keeping clear records of conversations and decisions
- The need to handle issues fairly and promptly at the time they arise
- The value of early advice and proactive HR processes
Put simply:
Good documentation and fair handling now reduce stress and cost later.
What you should do now
To protect your business:
Keep clear notes of staff discussions, warnings and outcomes
Follow proper procedures for disciplinaries, grievances and dismissals
Address issues promptly — don’t wait until they escalate
Ensure managers know the basics of fair process
Review HR templates, contracts and policies to ensure compliance
Key takeaways
- The Acas Early Conciliation period has doubled
- Employees now have longer in practice to bring claims
- Employers may not know about potential claims for months
- Good records and fair process are crucial
This change doesn’t need to be worrying — as long as you’re prepared and handling matters properly.