As 2024 ends, we want to celebrate our successes and thank our member arbitrators for their continued contributions.

• Nearly 1.1 million arbitration filings have been heard in 2024.
• The average cycle time (filing submitted to decision submitted) was 18.4 days.

Pulling and hearing a manageable volume of filings on a daily/weekly basis helps ensure an optimal cycle time, which is very much appreciated by our membership. This includes promptly reviewing and responding to any pre-publication decisions seeking further clarification.

Decision quality is just as important as productivity and cycle time. Taking the time to consider all the arguments and evidence and clearly documenting your decision is of the utmost importance to our membership.

The following arbitrator resources were provided in 2024 and will continue in 2025:

• E-Bulletin for Arbitrators is emailed every other month to all active arbitrators. The E-Bulletin offers insights on opportunities for improvement and communicates changes/enhancements to the TRS hearing workflow. 
• Arbitrator Workshops – During these 30-minute, informal webinars, AF representatives cover decision quality improvement opportunities and answer questions regarding evidence consideration, decision entry, and other valuable topics. Attend, listen, ask, and learn to improve your skills as an arbitrator. Visit our website to view the 2025 schedule and enroll.
• Additional Resources – AF offers many additional job aids for arbitrators including the Guide for Arbitrators, which was recently updated. Take a look at the For Arbitrators page to view these resources.

We look forward to our member arbitrators’ continued participation and commitment to quality in 2025 and beyond.