Cable announces proposals to reduce tribunal claims
The Business Secretary, Vince Cable, announced
proposals to reduce the number of claims made in employment
tribunals today. The measures are also aimed at encouraging
employment growth by making it easier for businesses to dismiss
employees.
The proposals include:
- Increasing the length of time an employee must work in a
business before being able to claim unfair dismissal from one to
two years
- Making all claims go through ACAS for one month before going to
an employment tribunal
- Imposing fees on people bringing tribunal claims
- Allowing claims to be heard by judges sitting alone.
The consultation period ends on 20th April.
Commenting on the proposals, Nick Soret, of
RBS
Mentor Employment
Law & HR said:
“These proposals are aimed more at reducing the cost of the
employment tribunal system than making things easier for
employers.
“Employees have an increasing number of rights from day one of
employment including all discrimination claims. In addition, the
potential for unfair dismissal claims will increase at a stroke
from April with the abolition of the default retirement age.
“Furthermore, the last time the qualifying period for unfair
dismissal was two years, employers were no better off as employees
brought claims that the qualifying period itself was
discriminatory”.
“However, employers are likely to welcome anything that shortens
and simplifies the time and cost of employment tribunal
proceedings”.