How to use dispute resolution

No one likes to be in dispute with his or her employer, but sometimes this is unavoidable, especially if you feel that your employer has discriminated against you. You can be discriminated against on a number of grounds including:

Disability
Gender
Age
Marital status
Race
Pregnancy
Religion
Nationality
Sexual orientation

You should try and resolve the issues you have with your employer as quickly as you can, as disputes in the workplace can be highly damaging. If you don’t feel confident handling your dispute alone, the services of a solicitor can be advantageous - especially when alleged discrimination is concerned. If you are a member of a trade union, they should be able to put you in touch with a solicitor. If they can’t, speak to Contact Law and we will be able to put you in touch with employment solicitors in your area.

If you and your employer cannot come to a mutually agreeable resolution to your dispute, you can use arbitration services. Dispute resolution via an arbitrator must be entered into carefully, and the legality of the arbitration clearly understood. Most arbitrators’ decisions will not be legally binding unless you and your employer agree this in advance.

Note that if you use Acas (Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service) for your dispute resolution, the decisions made by Acas are legally binding on all parties. In these cases it is essential to have your own legal representative especially in cases of alleged discrimination. Importantly, once arbitration is underway with Acas you cannot then go to an employment tribunal if the Acas decision isn’t what you had hoped it would be.

Dispute resolution is almost always in your best interests. Legal advice and support can be essential if you have been dismissed or feel that you have a case of discrimination. As employment law is so complex, always contact a specialist employment law solicitor as soon as you can to help with your case.

If you would like to obtain legal advice about employment disputes, Contact Law can put you in touch with a local specialist employment law / dispute resolution solicitor free of charge. So, if you have any questions or would like our help in finding local employment law / dispute resolution solicitors please call us on 0800 1777 162 or complete the web-form above.