In a landmark case, it has been decided that Employment tribunal fees are unlawful and they have been abolished. As every Employment Tribunal fee applied since 2013 has been collected illegally, the Government will need to provide a refund.
The Employment tribunals have taken immediate steps to stop charging fees for proceedings in the Employment Tribunal and Employment Appeal Tribunal. The online service has been withdrawn to remove references to fees. Therefore, employees will have to complete the ET1 form and submit it by post or in person to the relevant office in the meantime.
What does this mean for employers?
As employees will no longer need to pay to lodge their claims at the Employment Tribunal, employers may find themselves defending more Employment Tribunal claims. This will clearly mean that employers could face high legal costs and spend more time dealing with employee complaints. Therefore, it is now more important than ever to ensure that employers have the necessary protection.
Sign up to one of our HR packages and have the peace of mind that you will be receiving HR advice from experienced solicitors. Employers may also want to consider obtaining Employers Dispute Insurance in order to be fully protected.
Speak to one of our employment solicitors today on 020 7903 6888 or email v.dass@davenportsolicitors.com for more information.
