The CBI has claimed that the employment tribunal system is failing businesses and individuals. It is meant to offer claimants and companies informal, quick and cost-effective judgements but, according to the CBI, the system is instead slow, legalistic and antagonistic.

The Government has put in place a moratorium for micro firms on all new domestic regulations for the next three years. But the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) is concerned that micro firms will continue to be hit hard by new regulations that come from Europe – 72% of the total cost of UK regulation now originates from Brussels.

Changes to paternity leave from 3rd April, and the scrapping of the Default Retirement Age on 6th April will be damaging, claim business owners in an ongoing British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) survey.

The Acas Council has welcomed the Government's proposal for all potential employment tribunal claims to be offered early conciliation with Acas first. In its submission to the Government's consultation document 'Resolving Workplace Disputes', the Council said the plans would enable the expansion of Acas' successful Pre-Claim Conciliation (PCC) service.