Seeking advice on workplace problems can save businesses millions of pounds by helping avert employment tribunals, according employment relations service Acas.

Research by the organisation found that 23% of employees had been considering making an employment tribunal claim before calling Acas, but of this percentage, almost a third (30%) decided against pursuing a claim as a result of the information provided. This averted around 16,000 employment tribunals last year, saving £120m.

Almost half of the employers who responded said that their call to the helpline had prompted them to update or improve existing policies at their workplace, and 45% reported that their call had motivated them to implement new policies.

Other findings showed that male callers were more likely to have been considering making an employment tribunal claim (29%, compared to 20% of women), as were callers from the construction industry (28%), and those working in distribution, retail, hotels and restaurants.

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