The conciliation service ACAS is to receive up to an extra £37 million of funding from the government to help resolve workplace disputes before they are taken to the employment tribunal. The extra funding, which is to be made available over three years, will enable ACAS to expand a number of services including its helpline, as well as enabling it to look to provide more services that encourage good employment relations and prevent disputes from happening at an early stage. Cases that are taken to tribunal can cost businesses considerable time and money and have a knock-on effect on the wider economy. Research published at the end of last year showed that by stepping in at an early stage to attempt to resolve disputes, ACAS saved employers and the taxpayer almost £800 million a year, with every £1 invested in resulting in a saving of £16 to the UK economy.