Employment Tribunals – Increasing Risk for Employers
You may be aware that employment tribunal fees became a thing of the past in July 2017.
This change indicated an increased risk to employers which has now been backed up by statistics which have shown a 66 per cent rise in in the three months after fees were abolished in July.
Employers now should be taking steps to scrutinise their employment policies and practices in order to minimise the risk of claim. This includes having up to date employment contracts, and an employee handbook which should contain clear policies/procedures to manage issues which may arise.
Individuals can now make claims without financial outlay, and this will potentially result in an increase in frivolous claims.
Employers should potentially expect claims in the following areas;
- Holiday pay.
- Sex discrimination and maternity discrimination.
- Equal pay.
- Low value cases which would have been previously prevented by the level of fee required for an employment tribunal hearing.
- Multiple claims by trade unions on behalf of their members.
With the above in mind it is now more important than ever that an employer’s house is in order from an HR perspective. This includes regular reviews of employment documentation, and a thorough HR audit to minimise risk.
For further advice and action, you can contact us at Atom HR for peace of mind.
Ivan Spibey
0116- 2121153/07712-115663