Statutory dispute resolution procedures have made managing conflict at work more complex and failed to reduce the burden on the employment tribunal system, according to a new survey from the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD).

The report, Managing Conflict at Work, reveals conflict at work costs the average employer surveyed around 350 days of management time every year, as well as annual costs associated with employment tribunal claims of about £20,000, rising to over £210,000 for those employing 10,000 or more people.

Around one-third of employers believe disputes are less likely to be resolved informally following the introduction of the statutory dispute resolution procedures in October 2004, which introduced minimum three-step disciplinary and grievance procedures.

The survey also reveals that many employers report increases in the number of formal disciplinary and grievance cases since the introduction of the statutory procedures.

Ben Willmott, CIPD employee relations adviser and author of the report, says: “The Department for Trade and Industry should consider going back to the drawing board when they review the statutory procedures later this year. They have failed to reduce the burden on the employment tribunal system, adding to the complexity of tribunal hearings, as well as creating additional problems for employers by making managing conflict at work more bureaucratic.”