Number of Employment Tribunal Claims – On the Increase
The Employment Tribunal Services have just reported the statistics for 1st April 2006 to 31st March 2007.
The figures show that unfair dismissal claims are 6% higher than last year and 15% higher than 2004/2005.
The total number of claims has increased from 201,514 to 238,546 (an increase of nearly 18%)
Nature of Claim
2004/ 2005
2005 /2006
2006/2007
Unfair Dismissal
39,727
41,832
44,491
Equal Pay*
8229
17268
44013
Age Discrimination**
n/a
n/a
972
Total Claims
156081
201514
238546
However, the total figures have been somewhat distorted by a large number of equal pay* claims from the public sector. There was an increase from 8229 in 2004/5 to 44013 in 2006/7.
It may be interesting to note that 972 claims were brought under the new Age Discrimination** legislation that came into force in October 2006 (so this is only 6 months worth of claims).
The Cost of Claims
The cost of getting it wrong continues to increase. The average and medium awards were as follows:
Nature of Claim
Medium
Average
Unfair Dismissal
£3,800.00
£7,974.00
Sex Discrimination
£6,724.00
£10,052.00
Race Discrimination
£7,000.00
£14,049.00
Disability Discrimination
£15,059.00
£8,232.00
Costs do not include management time and legal fees.
It is still unlikely that you will be able to recoup costs (even if you win a case). The maximum costs that can be awarded is £10,000, but the medium was only £1,000.00 (average was (£2078.88). In addition only 166 costs orders were made against claimants (the employee), with 343 being made against the employer (respondent).
