Whether or not you agree with Boris Johnson about Employment Tribunal's being barmy, you can have your say on their future by going to the BIS website.
With Tribunal claims rising, the UK coalition government is reviewing employment laws. Employers are often unclear about what they can and can’t do, with scare stories about Tribunal claims leaving them feeling backed into a corner. The Employer’s Charter helps clear up some common myths about the balance between business need and individuals’ rights.
Employer lobby groups have raised concerns that Tribunal claims are too onerous and costly, particularly for smaller organisations. As a result, ways to speed up the Tribunal process and attempts to reduce ‘weak or vexatious claims’ will be considered. Prime Minister David Cameron has stated that the change will help support business growth.
The emphasis on reform appears to be in favour of businesses, which has received support from some quarters. The key proposals include increasing the minimum service for an unfair dismissal claim from one to two years and encouraging conciliation rather than Tribunal. This is aimed at reducing the number of claims brought against employers, however fines may also be imposed for employers who are in breach of employment rights to encourage compliance. Brendan Barber, of the TUC, has hit back at the proposals, stating that “if firms treated their staff fairly, few would ever find themselves taken to court”.
A separate consultation is under way to consider the introduction of a fee to bring a claim, although it is unclear what that cost could be. This has been met with disapproval by law firms who believe it could ‘impede access to justice’. However, the rising cost of the Employment Tribunal is obviously a key concern for the government and this may also result in payment of expenses being removed.
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