After conducting an in depth study, Acas found that a high proportion of employment tribunal awards aren’t paid, requiring payments to be enforced. However, when Acas mediates, payments are often made without any kind of enforcement.

IFF Research conducted the study for the service using a pool of 1,500 claimants who settled with a COT3 agreement in both Pre Claim Conciliation cases and individual cases. The study only viewed cases closed between the beginning of January and the end of March of last year. This was before Early Conciliation was introduced.

The Acas research found that just over half of claimants collect their employment tribunal awards without any kind of hassle. More than nine out of 10 employers pay compensation without the need for additional enforcement.

Acas and the team of HR experts that conducted the study also examined different types of workplaces involved in disputes and the different compensation levels for pay awards. Most of the time, settled disputes related to unfair dismissal and wage claims. On average, the compensation was about £3,000.

Acas Chair Sir Brendan Barber said that while low compliance rates with tribunal awards will remain a major concern, he was happy to see what the data said.

“It shows the crucial value of Acas’ impartial conciliation service in securing agreed settlements to disputes,” Barber said.