Employee Tribunals on the increase

The Tribunals Service has just published its Annual Report; it shows a 56% increase in Employment Tribunals between 2008/9 and 2009/10. Apart from sex discrimination, most other categories have increased, breach of contract is up by over 30% and working time claims are significantly up.

In tough economic times, employers and employees alike face difficult decisions .  When everybody is trying to achieve more with fewer resources, we can only succeed if we work closely together and recognise each others’ needs.  We certainly can’t sustain quarter of a million Employment Tribunal cases per year.

Now is the time for employers to take a close look at the psychological contract with the workforce and to take serious steps to eliminate discrimination, to introduce transparency in all dealings with employees.  Employers also need to engage with the reality that staff who work excessive hours are not more productive; they are more tired, more stressed, more alienated and more likely to make mistakes.  Working with your employees to maximise productivity by offering a psychologically healthy workplace is the most cost-effective way of getting more for less.