Pressure on the employment dispute resolution system is not confined to the tribunal backlog. Acas is also experiencing unprecedented levels of demand, with EC (Early Conciliation) notifications forecast to reach around 150,000 in the 2025–26 financial year. This would represent a record high by a significant margin and underlines the scale of the challenges facing the system upstream of the Employment Tribunals.
The impact is already being felt in operational delays. Acas is currently taking around five weeks to allocate a newly notified EC case to a conciliator, extending the pre litigation phase and delaying progress for both claimants and employers. For parties seeking swift resolution or clarity on their legal position, these delays can add to cost, uncertainty, and strain on working relationships.
Looking ahead, Acas expects demand to rise further. The ERA 2025 is anticipated to result in a 15–20% increase in EC notifications, reflecting both an expansion in employment rights and greater awareness of remedies among workers. While EC plays a vital role in resolving disputes without the need for litigation, increased volumes will test Acas’s capacity to deliver timely and effective conciliation unless additional resources are made available.
Delays at the EC stage risk pushing more cases into the tribunal system or prolonging disputes that might otherwise have settled swiftly. When viewed alongside rising tribunal waiting times, the figures paint a picture of a system under significant and growing strain.
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