NEWS & EVENTS

Government proposals to impose a fee for employees who wish to bring a claim against their employer at an employment tribunal could reduce the number of claims made against the region's employers.

That's the view of Employment Partner Phil Cookson of Roythornes Solicitors who was commenting on the Coalition's latest consultation on the Employment Tribunal service.

"One of the ideas in the consultation is to make employees who want to make a claim against their employer pay an up-front fee for doing so.  The aim is to reduce the number of claims made to cause trouble for employers even when they have no realistic chance of success.  Whenever a claim is made it costs a business time and money to handle and if the number of speculative claims can be reduced this will be good news."

At the same time the consultation asks whether the length of service required to make an unfair dismissal claim should double from one year to two. 

Phil said:

"It is welcome news that the Government is looking at ways to make the system easier for all parties to use and I would urge employers to have a look at the consultation and make their views known."

The consultation can be found on the web site http://www.bis.gov.uk, under 'consultations'.