Employment Tribunal Costs Come In

People will now have to pay a fee to bring an employment tribunal for the first time since they were introduced in the UK in the 1960s. Under the new rules launched that go live today, workers will have to pay an initial charge of either £160 or £250 to lodge a claim, followed by an additional fee of £230 or £950 if the case proceeds.

Employment Tribunal Fees Will Vary According to the Type of Case

The lower fees cover issues such as unpaid invoices whereas the higher fees are for cases like unfair dismissal. For help and advice regarding employment tribunals, speak to an employment tribunal solicitor who will be able to inform you of the full changes to tribunals and what they mean for businesses and employees. Justice Minister Helen Grant said the taxpayer should not have to foot the entire £74 million cost of employment tribunals, adding: “It is in everyone’s interest to avoid drawn out disputes which emotionally damage workers and financially damage businesses. That’s why we are encouraging quicker, simpler and cheaper alternatives like mediation.” Employers’ organisation the CBI has given its backing to the fees as an effective way of “weeding out weak claims”. A spokesman for the Federation of Small Businesses told the BBC: “For an employee, an employment tribunal can be seen as a ‘no cost’ option. “The FSB hopes the introduction of fees will curb the number of speculative claims and help reduce the perceived risk of taking on staff. Under the changes, there is a £400 fee to lodge an appeal and another £1,200 for a full hearing in the Employment Appeal Tribunal, though costs are reduced when more than one person is bringing a claim against the same employer. Our team of employment lawyers provides advice on the employment aspects of all major business decisions. For advice on employment tribunal fees, contact a member of the team: call us on 08456 381381 or email employment@ibblaw.co.uk.