Time-wasters must be made to ‘think twice’

An increase in costs to prevent people taking frivolous cases to employment tribunals has wide support among personnel professionals, judging by letters received by Personnel Today.

We have received an unprecedented response to our story regarding the DTI’s call to crack down on tribunal time-wasters (News, 27 July).

It reported that Birmingham Chamber of Commerce and Industry is lobbying for an increase in the maximum costs that can be awarded against people who take hopeless cases to tribunal from £500 to £5,000.

Kath Thomasson, personnel manager at CV Home Furnishings, said the £50,000 limit on unfair dismissal is encouraging people to take the chance and that a fine is needed to “make them think twice”.

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Charles Priestley, personnel manager at Pioneer Technology, expressed frustration at the time and cost to his company of cases that are “weak” or “a joke”.

Ann Burton, HR manager at 24seven Vending, said one case she dealt with took hours to prepare then lasted less than 60 minutes at the pre-trial hearing.