Following the government announcing its intention to introduce fees in employment tribunals, today the Ministry of Justice has opened a consultation, inviting tribunal users to comment on the way those fees will be structured. The two options for consideration are:

• an initial fee of £150-£250 to bring a claim, with an additional fee of £250-1,250 if it goes to hearing, with no limit on the maximum award,or

• a single fee of £200-600 and a £30,000 limit on the maximum award (with the option to pay an additional £1,750 if an award over £30,000 is sought)

Last year the tribunal system cost the taxpayer £84 million to run. The primary aim of the fee is to ensure claimants make a contribution towards this cost. From an employer’s perspective, however, this should also discourage claimants from bringing claims and reduce their expectations of the maximum award that they may obtain if successful. This in turn should assist employers in recruiting without fear of such claims being brought.

Posted by Hayley Prescott, who specialises in employment law, both contentious and non-contentious, including tribunal claims, unfair dismissal, redundancy, policies and procedures, compromise agreements, contractual issues and general advisory work.

Hayley Prescott
0115 976 6116
hprescott@brownejacobson.com