Personnel Today
  • Home
    • All PT content
  • Email sign-up
  • Topics
    • HR Practice
    • Employee relations
    • Learning & training
    • Pay & benefits
    • Wellbeing
    • Recruitment & retention
    • HR strategy
    • HR Tech
    • The HR profession
    • Global
    • All HR topics
  • Legal
    • Case law
    • Commentary
    • Flexible working
    • Legal timetable
    • Maternity & paternity
    • Shared parental leave
    • Redundancy
    • TUPE
    • Disciplinary and grievances
    • Employer’s guides
  • AWARDS
    • Personnel Today Awards
    • The RAD Awards
  • Jobs
    • Find a job
    • Jobs by email
    • Careers advice
    • Post a job
  • Brightmine
    • Learn more
    • Products
    • Free trial
    • Request a quote
  • Webinars
  • Advertise
  • OHW+

Personnel Today

Register
Log in
Personnel Today
  • Home
    • All PT content
  • Email sign-up
  • Topics
    • HR Practice
    • Employee relations
    • Learning & training
    • Pay & benefits
    • Wellbeing
    • Recruitment & retention
    • HR strategy
    • HR Tech
    • The HR profession
    • Global
    • All HR topics
  • Legal
    • Case law
    • Commentary
    • Flexible working
    • Legal timetable
    • Maternity & paternity
    • Shared parental leave
    • Redundancy
    • TUPE
    • Disciplinary and grievances
    • Employer’s guides
  • AWARDS
    • Personnel Today Awards
    • The RAD Awards
  • Jobs
    • Find a job
    • Jobs by email
    • Careers advice
    • Post a job
  • Brightmine
    • Learn more
    • Products
    • Free trial
    • Request a quote
  • Webinars
  • Advertise
  • OHW+

Employment lawDismissalEmployment tribunalsRedundancyUnfair dismissal

Tribunal hearings ‘Will continue to rise’

by Personnel Today 29 Sep 2008
by Personnel Today 29 Sep 2008

A dramatic rise in employment tribunal claims for unfair dismissal and discrimination will be another fall out of the credit crunch, as some businesses will fail to carry out redundancy planning as they should, warns a top employment lawyer.


  


Philip Richardson, an employment solicitor with Manchester law firm Stephensons Solicitors LLP, said: “In 2007/8, 189,348 cases were heard at employment tribunals, 45,000 more than the previous year, while the number of claims disposed of decreased from 107,412 to 86,237.


 


“Employment tribunal claims are a costly exercise whatever the size of business, not only in terms of money, but also in terms of time, loss of reputation and loss of morale to other employees.”


 


Philip added: “Many of those claims which were heard at a tribunal involved claims for unfair dismissal, and with the dreaded R-word now a common part of 2008 business life, and many firms contemplating cutting costs by trimming their workforce, managers must be aware of the procedure when it comes to redundancy or risk becoming another costly statistic.”


 


Philip has the following tips for business owners:


 


“Redundancy is a minefield you should not step into without first taking professional advice. Do not react too quickly and dismiss employees – instead speak to a legal advisor who can advise you as to the steps you should follow.


 


“Where more than 20 employees may be facing redundancy, consultation with employee reps or trade unions is required, as well as individual consultation. Only after this has taken place can notice be given after following a minimum legislative procedure.


 


“Identify the groups of employees at risk of redundancy early on, to avoid unnecessary uncertainty among those who are safe. Again, selecting those who will exit the business must be done objectively using selection criteria which does not have the potential to discriminate.


 


“Identify how much each individual is entitled to – this includes contractual or statutory notice and redundancy payments. Statutory redundancy payments are based on length of service, age, and salary. You may also need to take into account employee pensions.


 


“You must consider any alternative vacancies and also beware of any future recruitment you may have planned. Vacancies which may be appropriate to those being made redundant must be offered to them first, otherwise it could be a provocation which leads straight to a costly employment tribunal.


 


“Remember that redundancy is about stream-lining your business to make it more efficient in this tougher economic environment. Ensure you look after the staff who remain, keep morale up and the communication lines open at all times.”


Sign up to our weekly round-up of HR news and guidance

Receive the Personnel Today Direct e-newsletter every Wednesday

OptOut
This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

 


 

Personnel Today

Personnel Today articles are written by an expert team of award-winning journalists who have been covering HR and L&D for many years. Some of our content is attributed to "Personnel Today" for a number of reasons, including: when numerous authors are associated with writing or editing a piece; or when the author is unknown (particularly for older articles).

previous post
Engineering a brighter future with Alliance Learning!
next post
Engaging Employees – Measuring the Return on Investment

You may also like

Fire and rehire: the relocation question

22 May 2025

Restaurant tips should be included in holiday pay

21 May 2025

Black security manager awarded £360k after decade of...

20 May 2025

Minister defends Employment Rights Bill at Acas conference

16 May 2025

CBI chair Soames accuses ministers of not listening...

16 May 2025

Union rep teacher awarded £370k for unfair dismissal

15 May 2025

EHRC bows to pressure and extends gender consultation

15 May 2025

Tribunal finds need for degree in redundancy selection...

14 May 2025

‘Polygamous working’ is a minefield for HR

14 May 2025

Contract cleaner loses EAT race discrimination appeal

14 May 2025

  • 2025 Employee Communications Report PROMOTED | HR and leadership...Read more
  • The Majority of Employees Have Their Eyes on Their Next Move PROMOTED | A staggering 65%...Read more
  • Prioritising performance management: Strategies for success (webinar) WEBINAR | In today’s fast-paced...Read more
  • Self-Leadership: The Key to Successful Organisations PROMOTED | Eletive is helping businesses...Read more
  • Retaining Female Talent: Four Ways to Reduce Workplace Drop Out PROMOTED | International Women’s Day...Read more

Personnel Today Jobs
 

Search Jobs

PERSONNEL TODAY

About us
Contact us
Browse all HR topics
Email newsletters
Content feeds
Cookies policy
Privacy policy
Terms and conditions

JOBS

Personnel Today Jobs
Post a job
Why advertise with us?

EVENTS & PRODUCTS

The Personnel Today Awards
The RAD Awards
Employee Benefits
Forum for Expatriate Management
OHW+
Whatmedia

ADVERTISING & PR

Advertising opportunities
Features list 2025

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • Linkedin


© 2011 - 2025 DVV Media International Ltd

Personnel Today
  • Home
    • All PT content
  • Email sign-up
  • Topics
    • HR Practice
    • Employee relations
    • Learning & training
    • Pay & benefits
    • Wellbeing
    • Recruitment & retention
    • HR strategy
    • HR Tech
    • The HR profession
    • Global
    • All HR topics
  • Legal
    • Case law
    • Commentary
    • Flexible working
    • Legal timetable
    • Maternity & paternity
    • Shared parental leave
    • Redundancy
    • TUPE
    • Disciplinary and grievances
    • Employer’s guides
  • AWARDS
    • Personnel Today Awards
    • The RAD Awards
  • Jobs
    • Find a job
    • Jobs by email
    • Careers advice
    • Post a job
  • Brightmine
    • Learn more
    • Products
    • Free trial
    • Request a quote
  • Webinars
  • Advertise
  • OHW+