Personnel Today
  • Home
    • All PT content
    • Advertise
  • Email sign-up
  • Topics
    • HR Practice
    • Employee relations
    • Equality, diversity and inclusion
    • 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
    • Shared parental leave
    • Redundancy
    • Maternity & Paternity
    • TUPE
    • Disciplinary and grievances
    • Employer’s guides
  • AWARDS
    • Personnel Today Awards
    • The RAD Awards
    • OHW Awards
  • Jobs
    • Find a job
    • Jobs by email
    • Careers advice
    • Post a job
  • XpertHR
    • Learn more
    • Products
    • Pricing
    • Free trial
    • Subscribe
    • XpertHR USA
  • Webinars
  • OHW+

Personnel Today

Register
Log in
Personnel Today
  • Home
    • All PT content
    • Advertise
  • Email sign-up
  • Topics
    • HR Practice
    • Employee relations
    • Equality, diversity and inclusion
    • 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
    • Shared parental leave
    • Redundancy
    • Maternity & Paternity
    • TUPE
    • Disciplinary and grievances
    • Employer’s guides
  • AWARDS
    • Personnel Today Awards
    • The RAD Awards
    • OHW Awards
  • Jobs
    • Find a job
    • Jobs by email
    • Careers advice
    • Post a job
  • XpertHR
    • Learn more
    • Products
    • Pricing
    • Free trial
    • Subscribe
    • XpertHR USA
  • Webinars
  • OHW+

Vexatious claimsEmployment lawEmployment tribunals

Government publishes plans for workplace dispute reform

by John Eccleston 27 Jan 2011
by John Eccleston 27 Jan 2011

The Government has today published its plans to overhaul the way in which workplace disputes are resolved, as well as introducing an “employer’s charter” to remind businesses of their rights.

Described by the Government as the latest step in its comprehensive review of employment laws, the consultation outlines a number of ways in which the workplace disputes system could be changed, with the main goals being to reduce the number of tribunal claims and to speed up claims that do arise.

According to the Government, the key objectives of the proposals are to:



  • give businesses greater confidence to hire new staff by increasing the qualifying period for employees to be able to bring a claim for unfair dismissal from one to two years;
  • encourage parties to resolve disputes between themselves as early as possible;
  • speed up the tribunal process; and
  • tackle weak and vexatious claims.

The Government also says that the Ministry of Justice will launch a separate consultation into the issue of introducing fees for bringing tribunal cases and appeals. The Government says this is “to ensure that users contribute towards the running of the system”, but another outcome of the charge is that it will deter some employees from pursuing a claim.

The consultation, which will run until 20 April, has been welcomed by business groups. John Cridland, CBI director-general designate, said: “For far too long the tribunals system has put the interests of lawyers above those of employers and employees. Given that 2010 saw a 56% rise in tribunal claims, the Government must look at ways of strengthening the process.

“It is in everyone’s interests that disputes are resolved swiftly and fairly. Introducing an element of charging would help weed out weak and vexatious claims, clearing the way for more deserving cases to be heard,” he added.

Steve Radley, director of policy at the manufacturers’ organisation EEF, agreed, saying: “These proposals are a potentially welcome package of reforms to the employment tribunal system. In taking this forward, the Government must develop a firm approach that will help deter spurious claims and simplify the system, whilst ensuring that mediation is the first port of call and a recourse to legal action the last.

However, Radley added that the Government needed to accompany its proposals with clearer plans on how to create jobs growth. He said “In recent years employers have become fearful of the impact of employment legislation and the charter is a positive first step in clarifying what they can and cannot do. However, the bigger picture remains how we sweep away the barriers to growth and make a difference to employers’ ability to create the private sector jobs we need. This will require far more radical action.”

Keep up to date with tribunal issues with XpertHR’s Tribunal Watch blog. 

XpertHR also provides regular summaries of recent employment tribunal rulings.

Avatar
John Eccleston

previous post
New Book Reveals Reasons Behind Record-Breaking Employee Dissatisfaction
next post
Experts cast doubt on Government’s ‘employer’s charter’

You may also like

One in five employers planning ‘no jab no...

19 May 2022

BNP Paribas banker accused of ’emotional terrorism’ wins...

19 May 2022

Bald move: Tribunal was right in sex-related harassment...

17 May 2022

MP demands timeline on carer’s leave legislation

13 May 2022

Employment tribunal: use of word ‘bald’ can amount...

13 May 2022

Queen’s Speech: absence of employment bill leaves organisations...

10 May 2022

Queen’s Speech: Exclusivity contracts for low-paid workers to...

9 May 2022

MP seeks legal protections for employees undergoing fertility...

9 May 2022

Solicitor unfairly dismissed during cancer recovery awarded £17k

6 May 2022

PwC staff to benefit from extended summer hours...

5 May 2022
  • Apprenticeships are the solution to your recruitment problems PROMOTED | Apprenticeships have the pulling power...Read more
  • What it really means to be mentally fit PROMOTED | What is mental fitness...Read more
  • How music can help to ease anxiety at work PROMOTED | A lot has happened since March 2020, hasn’t it?...Read more
  • Why now is the time to plug the unhealthy gap PROMOTED | We’ve all heard the term ‘health is wealth’...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 2022

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • Linkedin


© 2011 - 2022 DVV Media International Ltd

Personnel Today
  • Home
    • All PT content
    • Advertise
  • Email sign-up
  • Topics
    • HR Practice
    • Employee relations
    • Equality, diversity and inclusion
    • 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
    • Shared parental leave
    • Redundancy
    • Maternity & Paternity
    • TUPE
    • Disciplinary and grievances
    • Employer’s guides
  • AWARDS
    • Personnel Today Awards
    • The RAD Awards
    • OHW Awards
  • Jobs
    • Find a job
    • Jobs by email
    • Careers advice
    • Post a job
  • XpertHR
    • Learn more
    • Products
    • Pricing
    • Free trial
    • Subscribe
    • XpertHR USA
  • Webinars
  • OHW+