Although the Government's response is not due for some months, the Government has requested ACAS to draft a new Code of Practice on Settlement Agreements in support of the Government's proposals that offers of settlement of workplace disputes will not be admissible as evidence. Either party may propose settlement but if a settlement offer is rejected, an employer will have to go through a fair process before dismissing the employee. The Government intends to the Code to be available to employers and employees and their representatives before the changes to the unfair dismissal rules come into force.

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