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Employee relations
Information and consultation requirements (ICE)
Requirements under the ICE Regulations 2004 for informing and consulting employees about business decisions.
UK-wide
Guide summary
If your business has 50 or more employees, you may need to set up formal ways to share information and ask for opinions from your staff. You must respond to an employee request for this within 3 months and agree on a plan within 6 months.
- Applies if you have 50 or more employees
- Request can come from 15 employees or 2% of staff
- Maximum 2,500 employees for request percentage
- Start negotiations within 3 months of valid request
- Reach agreement within 6 months of starting negotiations
- Inform employees about business, employment, and changes
- Central Arbitration Committee (CAC) handles complaints
- CAC can fine up to £75,000 for breaches
On this page
UK-wide
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The Information and Consultation of Employees (ICE) Regulations 2004 give employees the right to request arrangements for being informed and consulted about business decisions.
When the regulations apply
What employees can request
If you receive a valid request, you must negotiate an information and consultation agreement covering:
- Economic situation - recent and probable development of activities and economic situation
- Employment situation - structure and probable development of employment, any threats to jobs
- Decisions likely to lead to substantial changes - work organisation, contractual relations (including redundancies and TUPE transfers)
The process
After receiving a valid request:
- Within 3 months - start negotiations with employee representatives
- Within 6 months of starting - reach agreement or standard provisions apply
Enforcement
Complaints about ICE breaches go to the Central Arbitration Committee (CAC), which can impose penalties up to GBP 75,000.