There are some benefits to arbitration if something goes wrong for you alone because it can be easier and faster to navigate than going to court. That being said, if you would prefer to have access to class action lawsuits, then opting out might be the better option for you.
Example 1. Arbitration. All claims and disputes arising under or relating to this Agreement are to be settled by binding arbitration in the state of insert state in which parties agree to arbitrate or another location mutually agreeable to the parties.
Limited Appeal Options: One of the most significant downsides of arbitration is that it offers very limited options for appeal. Once the arbitrator makes a decision, it's usually final unless there was a substantial legal oversight.
Courts and legislatures have historically favored arbitration because the process is usually more efficient and less expensive than resolving a dispute through the court system. Arbitration also shifts the burden of managing disputes and deciding issues away from the often-overburdened public courts.
The Scope of the Clause. This section of the clause is critical; it sets the boundaries for which disputes the tribunal is authorised to determine. Choice of Rules. The Number of Arbitrators. Appointing Authority. Choice of Venue. The language of the proceedings. Finality. Exclusion of the right of appeal.
The first example is a wrongful termination claim. Wrongful terminations are claims against an employer where a former employee feels that they were not fired or terminated correctly for one reason or another.
Generally there's no real benefit to the employee for binding arbitration. There's definitely disadvantages. Most tend to include, as yours apparently does, clauses forbidding bringing class actions against the employer.
A claimant will typically start arbitration by sending a document known as a “request for arbitration” or a “notice to arbitrate” to its opponent.
The Scope of the Clause. This section of the clause is critical; it sets the boundaries for which disputes the tribunal is authorised to determine. Choice of Rules. The Number of Arbitrators. Appointing Authority. Choice of Venue. The language of the proceedings. Finality. Exclusion of the right of appeal.