The role of employment tribunals

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The Employment Tribunal is a legal body that adjudicates on employment-related disputes between employers and employees. The tribunal hears cases related to a wide range of employment issues, including discrimination, unfair dismissal, redundancy, and wage disputes. In this blog post, we will discuss the UK Employment Tribunal in more detail and its importance for both employees and employers.

The Role of the Employment Tribunal

The employment tribunal plays a crucial role in enforcing employment law and resolving disputes between employees and employers. The tribunal deals with a wide range of employment-related matters, including discrimination, unfair dismissal, breach of contract, redundancy, and whistleblowing. The tribunal’s primary function is to provide an accessible and impartial forum for the resolution of disputes, and to ensure that justice is done.

How it Works

The process of bringing a case to the employment tribunal begins with the completion of an ACAS Early Conciliation form. This is a mandatory step that requires the parties to try and resolve the dispute through conciliation before a claim can be lodged with the tribunal. If conciliation fails, the employee can proceed with the claim by lodging a claim form with the tribunal, setting out the nature of the dispute and the relief sought.
Once the claim is lodged, the employer is required to respond to the claim, setting out their defence. The tribunal will then set a hearing date, where the parties will have the opportunity to present their case and call witnesses. The tribunal will then make a decision, which may include an award of compensation, reinstatement, or other appropriate relief.

Structure of the Employment Tribunal

The Employment Tribunal is divided into multiple regional and national offices across the UK. Each office is presided over by a judge, who is assisted by panel members who represent both employers and employees. The tribunal is designed to be an impartial body, and its primary objective is to resolve employment disputes in a fair and just manner.

Employment Disputes Heard by the Employment Tribunal

The Employment Tribunal hears a wide range of employment disputes, including:


• Unfair dismissal – where an employee is dismissed without due cause or procedure.
• Discrimination – where an employee has been discriminated against based on their race, age, gender, disability, or other protected characteristics.
• Redundancy – where an employee has been made redundant unfairly or without due process.
• Wage disputes – where an employee has not received the correct pay or compensation.
• Breach of contract – where an employer has failed to meet contractual obligations, such as providing appropriate notice periods.

Importance of the Employment Tribunal

The Employment Tribunal plays an essential role in ensuring that employees are protected and that employers adhere to employment laws and regulations. The tribunal provides a fair and impartial process for resolving disputes, which benefits both employees and employers. Employees can seek justice for unfair treatment, discrimination, or wrongful dismissal, while employers can defend themselves against unfounded claims.
Moreover, the Employment Tribunal system provides a level of protection for whistle-blowers who report illegal or unethical practices within their organizations. Employees who face retaliation for whistleblowing can bring a claim to the tribunal, and if the tribunal finds in favour of the employee, the employer may be ordered to pay compensation and or reinstate the employee.

Can Sekoya help?

The Employment Tribunal is an essential legal body that plays a critical role in protecting the rights of employees and ensuring that employers adhere to employment laws and regulations. It provides a fair and impartial process for resolving employment disputes and plays an important role in promoting a fair and just workplace for all.

Sekoya regularly support our wonderful clients with employment tribunal support. In fact, we have a 100% success rate!

If you’ve had correspondence from ACAS regarding early conciliation for one of your employees, or you’ve had an ET1 form sent to you, and you don’t know where to turn, get in touch and we will see if we can help.

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