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| New employment tribunal laws come into force | New employment tribunal laws come into force |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| New rules aimed at reducing the number of employment tribunals have come into force. | New rules aimed at reducing the number of employment tribunals have come into force. |
| Staff wanting bring a case of unfair dismissal or discrimination now have to first notify the conciliation service Acas to see if the dispute can be resolved. | Staff wanting bring a case of unfair dismissal or discrimination now have to first notify the conciliation service Acas to see if the dispute can be resolved. |
| Another change sees employers facing fines if they lose a case at tribunal. | Another change sees employers facing fines if they lose a case at tribunal. |
| Ministers said the changes would help avoid "stress, time delays and excessive costs". | Ministers said the changes would help avoid "stress, time delays and excessive costs". |
| Previous government measures include the introduction last year of fees for workers looking to take their employers to tribunal. | Previous government measures include the introduction last year of fees for workers looking to take their employers to tribunal. |
| 'Welcome incentive' | 'Welcome incentive' |
| This led to a 79% fall in the number of applications but was strongly criticised by trade unions. | This led to a 79% fall in the number of applications but was strongly criticised by trade unions. |
| Under the new rules, which have come in at the start of the 2014/15 tax year, staff or employers will be required to consult Acas before having access to a full tribunal. | Under the new rules, which have come in at the start of the 2014/15 tax year, staff or employers will be required to consult Acas before having access to a full tribunal. |
| Acas, which stands for Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service, was set up to improve employment relations and prevent tribunals. | Acas, which stands for Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service, was set up to improve employment relations and prevent tribunals. |
| Another change in the law will mean that if an employer loses a case brought by an employee or former employee, and is shown to have especially poor workplace practices, it could be fined up to £5,000 on top of any back pay that is due to the employee. | Another change in the law will mean that if an employer loses a case brought by an employee or former employee, and is shown to have especially poor workplace practices, it could be fined up to £5,000 on top of any back pay that is due to the employee. |
| The TUC said the fines would create a welcome new incentive for bosses to respect the rights of their staff rather than risk increased financial penalties. | The TUC said the fines would create a welcome new incentive for bosses to respect the rights of their staff rather than risk increased financial penalties. |
| The Confederation of British Industry said more work was needed to change the culture of the system of solving disputes. | The Confederation of British Industry said more work was needed to change the culture of the system of solving disputes. |
| Employment relations minister Jenny Willott said the Early Conciliation scheme was "good news for employees and employers". | Employment relations minister Jenny Willott said the Early Conciliation scheme was "good news for employees and employers". |
| She said: "It will help them resolve their workplace disputes, avoiding the stress, time delays and excessive costs all too often associated with tribunals." | She said: "It will help them resolve their workplace disputes, avoiding the stress, time delays and excessive costs all too often associated with tribunals." |
| Also coming into force in the new tax year is a rise in National Insurance allowances for employers, a fall in corporation tax to 21% and a rise in the ISA allowance to £5,940. |