Employment tribunals deal with many claims that an employee can bring against their employer about their employment or its termination.
The relationship between an employer and their employee is governed by contract and statute created by Parliament. Most statutory rights can only be enforced in the employment tribunal, whereas the employment tribunal can only deal with some contractual matters.
Examples of claims dealt with by the employment tribunal are:
- Unfair dismissal claims
- Discrimination claims
- Equal pay claims
- Unlawful deductions from wages claims
In July 2013, the Government introduced fees for the first time in employment tribunal cases, however in July 2017 the fees were ruled as 'unlawful' by the Supreme Court and were quashed with immediate effect.
Although employers can represent themselves in employment tribunals, the specialist Employment Law solicitors at Banner Jones can help maximise your chances of successfully defending a claim made against you. Employment tribunals have complex rules and the chances of winning or losing depend on using the right tactics and knowing how to present your case. We have many year’s experience representing both employers and employees before the employment tribunal which gives us the ability to ensure that we see both sides of the argument and know how best to present your case to give you the best chance of winning.
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Holiday pay ruling upheld for part year workers
Holiday pay for those who work only part of the year and have no contractually set hours should be calculated on the basis of average earnings, the Supreme Court has confirmed.
Protecting the mental health and wellbeing of employees is more than just a workplace perk
As such a large part of an employee’s life is spent at work, it’s important that employers play an active role in ensuring that their workers develop and maintain good mental wellbeing and a healthy relationship with their place of work.
This is particularly important post-pandemic, when it is widely acknowledged that employees' health has suffered because of lockdowns, job uncertainty, and the mandate to work from home.
After all, healthy and well-motivated employees will have an equally positive impact on the productivity and effectiveness of a business!
How to avoid an Employment Tribunal
The cost of defending Employment Tribunal cases can vary significantly and could cost your business anything from £10,000 to £50,000. Then if the claimant is successful, there will be the cost of compensation on top of this. The average award for an unfair dismissal case in the UK is a little under £7,000, with claims resulting from discrimination costing significantly more. Businesses also need to consider the hidden cost of employment law claims caused by the damage it can do to their reputation as an employer and as a business that clients and customers want to work with. Often this cost can be more damaging than the award itself.
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