The secretary of state for business, enterprise and regulatory reform has approved the revised Acas code of practice on disciplinary and grievance procedures. However, it will remain as a draft until it has been approved by parliament. 

The code is expected to come into force in April 2009 alongside the abolition of the statutory dispute resolution procedures. Under the new system, employment tribunals will be able to take non-compliance with the Acas code of practice into account when determining relevant cases. Where an employer or employee has unreasonably failed to comply with a provision of the code, tribunals will be able to increase or decrease any awards by up to 25%. 

• Code of practice - disciplinary and grievance procedures (PDF format, 57K) Refer to the revised code of practice on the Acas website. 

Also

A series of articles by Osborne Clarke on the repeal of the statutory dispute resolution procedures covering: an overview of the procedures, the Acas code of practice and guidance, and a case study looking at the impact of the repeal of the dismissal and disciplinary procedure. 

A disappointing draft revised disciplinary code Employment Law Bulletin consultant editor Darren Newman asks if the revised Acas code of practice is something of a damp squib.