Note: a subsequent legal change has affected the accuracy of this material.
Employment tribunal claims against employers are in decline and have been since the introduction of employment tribunal fees two years ago.
Under current legislation, the odds are still stacked up against any employee who wants to seek redress through the employment tribunals.
Since the introduction of employment tribunal fees, it costs up to £1,200 to see a claim through to the final hearing (£250 to issue an employment claim and £950 for a hearing fee).
Our other article explains the system for rebates.
According to a recent study the number of employees who are bringing claims for cases such as discrimination or unfair dismissal continues to dwindle. The TUC cits a fall of up to three-quarters of unfair dismissal claims being pursued. Also that discrimination cases on grounds of sex has fallen by 90%, race claims by 61% and disability by 63%.
They reported that the average figure of claims being pursued has fallen to less than 7,000 claims per month. In contrast, the figures for the 2012 to 2013 were more than twice this.
The TUC general secretary, Frances O’Grady, said: “These figures show a huge drop in workers seeking justice when they’ve been unfairly treated. Now bosses know they can get away with it, discrimination at work can flourish unchecked and people can be sacked without good reason. The evidence is there for all to see. These fees – of up to £1,200, even if you’re on the minimum wage – are pricing out thousands each month from pursuing cases”.
Since taking the reins of power our current PM Theresa May has pledged that employment rights will not be reduced, so she now has every opportunity to reverse the restrictive fees and allow every worker in the land to have full access to justice.
However it is Conservative policy to continue the fees regime – only the Labour party has pledged to remove employment tribunal fees from the statute books.