the acas arbitration scheme
If employer and employee agree, an unfair dismissal claim can be dealt with by arbitration, through a scheme administered by the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service (ACAS), rather than by an employment tribunal. The arbitrator, appointed by ACAS, decides whether the dismissal was fair or unfair according to general principles of fairness and good employment relations practice, rather than by applying legal tests or rules from legislation or case law. The arbitration hearing is held in private, where possible at a location that is convenient to both sides, and is conducted more informally than a tribunal hearing. ACAS anticipates that most hearings will last for only half a day. The arbitrator's decision is confidential and can be appealed only in very limited circumstances. If the arbitrator decides that the dismissal was unfair, he or she has power to award the usual remedies for unfair dismissal.
Your Association can provide details of the ACAS arbitration scheme, and advice on the advantages and disadvantages of opting for arbitration.