Rise In Workplace Tensions

A new report published by Acas, the employment relations service, has revealed a rise in workplace tensions as a result of the recession.

Acas has seen a 22% rise in unfair dismissal conciliation cases and a significant increase in other employment tribunal cases. Demand for redundancy advice has also risen.

In its annual report, which provides a snapshot of the UK job and employment, figures show that Acas received over 78,000 (net) conciliation cases from the Employment Tribunal Service – almost a fifth (18%) more than last year.

There was also a significant (22%) increase in unfair dismissal conciliation cases received by Acas over the last year, compared to a decrease in the number of these cases over the last two years.

In total, Acas received 55,000 cases which involved a claim for unfair dismissal this year, a rise of almost 12,000.

Calls to the Acas helpline on redundancy have steadily risen over the last year. The helpline, which received between 10,000 and 15,000 calls per week in 08/09 saw a 100% increase in the proportion of calls requesting advice on redundancy. The helpline even extended its opening hours in April to cover evenings and Saturday mornings in order to satisfy demand.

Ed Sweeney, Acas Chair commented: "The figures in this report underline the strain that businesses and individuals have had to face in the last year.”