Employment Tribunal Fees For Claimants Introduced
As of yesterday (29 July 2013), all employees making an Employment Tribunal claim against an employer must pay a fee to lodge their claim.
Claims have been grouped together into two categories: Type A claims include Wages Act/refusals to allow time off/appeals etc., while a Type B would include Discrimination / detriment / dismissal claims.
Both claim types are subject to slightly different fees.
For Type A claims, the cost of issuing a claim will now be £160, while the fee for a hearing will be £230.
Any employee with a type B claim will pay £250 to issue a claim with a further £950 issue fees.
There are various other application specific fees along with discounts for claims made by groups of employees on the same claim form.
Full details can be found on this Ministry of Justice Employment Tribunal Fees Factsheet.
The government say the introduction of fees is to make the Employment Tribunal process fairer for companies and to dissuade those wishing to make spurious claims.
Under the old system, companies could be faced with huge bills defending unmeritorious claims.
There have already been concerns raised by groups representing claimants.
It is claimed the introduction of fees will make it easier for companies to get away with treating their employees badly. People with valid claims will not be able to afford the justice they deserve.
What is clear is that the old system could not continue, with claims costing companies and taxpayers tens of millions of pounds every year and the introduction of fees is a step in the right direction. Whether the level of the fees are so high that they will discourage genuine claimants remains to be seen.
I will watch with interest over the coming months whether any of the planned demonstrations and appeals against the new rules persuade the government to rethink their strategy on Employment Tribunals.
For further advice, please contact our Employment Law Team
Amy Hallam
Head of Employment
0114 3496989
amy.hallam@brmlaw.co.uk
