The ACAS Arbitration Scheme (“the Scheme”) is implemented pursuant to section 212A of the Trade Union and Labour Relations (Consolidation) Act 1992 (“the 1992 Act”).

The Scheme provides a voluntary alternative to the employment tribunal for the resolution of unfair dismissal disputes, in the form of arbitration.

Resolution of disputes under the Scheme is intended to be confidential, informal, relatively fast and cost efficient. Procedures under the Scheme are non-legalistic, and far more flexible than the traditional model of the employment tribunal and the courts. For example (as explained in more detail below), the Scheme avoids the use of formal pleadings and formal witness and documentary procedures. Strict rules of evidence will not apply, and, as far as possible, instead of applying strict law or legal precedent, general principles of fairness and good conduct will be taken into account (including, for example, principles referred to in any relevant ACAS “Disciplinary and Grievance Procedures” Code of Practice or “Discipline and Grievances at Work” Handbook). Arbitral decisions (“awards”) will be final, with very limited opportunities for parties to appeal or otherwise challenge the result.

The Scheme also caters for requirements imposed as a matter of law (eg, the Human Rights Act 1998, devolution issues, existing law in the field of arbitration and EC law).

The Scheme accommodates certain differences between the law of Scotland and the law of England and Wales relating to arbitrations generally. It does so by providing, to the extent necessary in order to accommodate those differences, separate provisions applicable to Scottish arbitrations on the one hand and to English or Welsh arbitrations on the other. For convenience, paragraphs that apply only to Scottish arbitrations are marked “S” and paragraphs that apply only to English or Welsh arbitrations are marked “EW”.