The Industrial Tribunals and Fair Employment Tribunal (Early Conciliation: Exemptions and Rules of Procedure) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2020

Starting Early Conciliation

Satisfying the requirement for early conciliation

1.  To satisfy the requirement for early conciliation, a prospective claimant or their representative must—

(a) present a completed early conciliation form to the Agency in accordance with rule 2; or

(b) telephone the Agency in accordance with rule 3.

2.—(1) An early conciliation form which is presented to the Agency must be—

(a) submitted using the online form via the Agency’s website; or

(b) sent by post to the Agency address provided on the early conciliation form.

(2) An early conciliation form must contain—

(a) the prospective claimant’s name and address; and

(b) the prospective respondent’s name and address.

(3) The Agency may reject a form that does not contain the information specified in paragraph (2) or may contact the prospective claimant or their representative to obtain any missing information.

(4) If the Agency rejects a form under paragraph (3), it must either return the form or notify the prospective claimant or their representative that the form is rejected.

3.—(1) A prospective claimant or their representative telephoning the Agency for early conciliation must call the telephone number provided on the early conciliation form and inform the Agency of—

(a) the prospective claimant’s name and address; and

(b) the prospective respondent’s name and address.

(2) The Agency must insert the information provided under paragraph (1) on to an early conciliation form or on to the Agency’s electronic case management system.

4.  If there is more than one prospective respondent, the prospective claimant or their representative must present a separate early conciliation form under rule 2 in respect of each prospective respondent or, in the case of a telephone call made under rule 3, must name each prospective respondent.