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This year’s study found employers dealing, on average, with around 66 disciplinary cases and 19 grievances over the previous 24 months.

This represents a three-fold increase on the numbers reported in a similar IRS survey last year.

Despite this, the number of dismissals appears to have fallen – suggesting that employers are trying to deal with problems at an earlier stage, before they become too difficult to resolve without involving outside organisations.

The study suggests that this may be one result of the introduction of the new dispute resolution regulations in October 2004, which were introduced to cut the number of disputes reaching an employment tribunal.

HR has given the new rules a tentative thumbs-up, with 58% agreeing to some extent that the regulations have made it easier to settle disputes