Employment tribunals increase

By NORI HR & Employment Law

18 Jun 2021

The latest figures from the Ministry of Justice show that the aggregate number of employment tribunals has increased quarter-on-quarter in the last year, with Covid thought to be the likely cause as a result of businesses mishandling furlough, changes to employment contracts and redundancies in the last 14 months.

Overall, single cases have risen 5% whilst multiple claim cases (made by more than one person based on the same set of facts) have increased by 18%.

In notes accompanying the latest statistical release, the Ministry of Justice says that ‘though there was a comparative fall this quarter, there has been an aggregate rise over the last few quarters which is most likely due to the rise in unemployment and changes to working conditions seen during the COVID-19 pandemic.

This rise in employment tribunal receipts is likely to continue as the economy has faced a severe shock following the impact of COVID-19 and could be further accelerated when the furlough scheme ends’.

Smaller firms are thought to be most at risk of challenge by disgruntled workers according to Amrita Govindji-Bruce, joint managing director at NORI HR and Employment Law, a family-run consultancy in Lancashire.

“A lot of small businesses, especially in retail and hospitality, have been forced to let people go or cut their hours in order to survive the pandemic, but it’s clear they haven’t all dealt with their employees properly and fairly when doing so. In the main, it’s because they don’t have any internal HR and employment law expertise.

“As a result, we’re seeing rising numbers of business owners and managers asking for help because one or more employees have raised grievances concerning their treatment, so these new figures from the Ministry of Justice come as no surprise.

“Not only is all this fire-fighting an unwanted distraction just as businesses are opening up again, but if not resolved through mediation it can end up in an employment tribunal with costly awards and reputational damage.”

The recent case of the Mad Hatters Tea Rooms in the Lancashire village of Longton, where two former employees successfully took the business to an employment tribunal, serves to illustrate the point. Not only was the owner made to pay more than £2,000, it has been the subject of negative news reporting and widespread criticism on social media.

"The owners of small firms will often ‘wing it’ where HR is concerned, wrongly assuming that it’s only big businesses that find themselves getting taken to an employment tribunal, but that’s simply not true.

"To avoid the very real threat of being the subject of a claim, businesses of all sizes should get expert help before making any changes to terms and conditions, reducing hours, making staff redundant or putting them on furlough. And if it’s already too late for that, it’s crucial to get professional advice on mediation and other ways to avoid going to tribunal,” added Govindji-Bruce.

 More Information:

1. NORI HR & Employment Law, based in Accrington, Lancashire, is a fast-growing, family-led company that enables small and medium-sized businesses to outsource their employment needs to HR experts. The business name is inspired from the locally produced ‘Accrington NORI’ brick. Visit www.norihr.co.uk to learn more.

2. The latest statistical release from the Ministry of Justice, published on 10th June 2021, can be found here (last accessed 16th June 2021 at 10:59am).

3. Further details of the Mad Hatters case, reported locally in Lancashire, can be found here

Latest news

1

Panache Cruises on course for further growth with support from Rosebud James Cole

Panache Cruises on course for further growth with support from Rosebud

03 Jul 2025

2

Lancashire emerges as key player in UK's Defence and Tech Sector Mo Isap Chair Of The Lancashire Business Board Nick Miles National Cyber Force Deputy Director For Samlesbury Annette Weekes Representative Of The NWRDSC

Lancashire emerges as key player in UK's Defence and Tech Sector

03 Jul 2025

3

Report shows impact of BAE Systems in Lancashire BAE Systems Radar

Report shows impact of BAE Systems in Lancashire

02 Jul 2025

4

Three weekly domestic waste collection considered in plans Waste recycling Blackpool

Three weekly domestic waste collection considered in plans

01 Jul 2025

5

Graham Engineering confirms sale to a2e Industries Graham Engineering

Graham Engineering confirms sale to a2e Industries

01 Jul 2025

Background image for hub sign up block

LBV Hub

Leverage Lancashire Business View platforms

Post your news
Post your events
Post your offers
Build your network
Improve your SEO
Gain coverage in the magazine
Sign-up
Events
LBV123 July/August Launch Event
Lancashire Business View magazine launch
Networking
16 Jul 2025

LBV123 July/August Launch Event

Burnley

08:30 - 10:30

Lancashire Built Environment Conference 2025
BEC 315 X 315 Px
Networking
25 Sep 2025

Lancashire Built Environment Conference 2025

Blackpool Football Club, Blackpool, FY1 6HX

08:30 - 13:00

CMI Level 5 Management and Leadership Course
UCLanAerialCampus.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
21 Feb 2025 - 21 Feb 2026

CMI Level 5 Management and Leadership Course

Preston Campus, Preston , PR1 2HE

09:00 - 17:00

CMI Level 5 Project Management Course
UCLanAerialCampus.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
21 Feb 2025 - 21 Feb 2026

CMI Level 5 Project Management Course

Preston Campus, Preston, PR1 2HE

08:00 - 17:00

The Marketing Metrics that Matter – July 4
LBV Hub Seminars
04 Jul 2025 - 04 Jul 2025

The Marketing Metrics that Matter – July 4

Door4 Office, Burnley Wharf, Burnley, BB11 1JG

08:30 - 11:00

Tri-Site Survey Equipment Showcase
unnamed (2).jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
09 Jul 2025 - 09 Jul 2025

Tri-Site Survey Equipment Showcase

Crow Wood Hotel, Burnley, BB12 0RT

09:30 - 16:00

Blackburn Cathedral hosts Champagne and Diamonds Event with Ainsworth Jewellers
Champagne-Jewellery 10 07 25_page-0001.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Awards
10 Jul 2025 - 10 Jul 2025

Blackburn Cathedral hosts Champagne and Diamonds Event with Ainsworth Jewellers

Blackburn Cathedral, Blackburn, BB1 5AA

18:00 - 20:30

Choose Chorley for Business - Talent Reimagined Business Breakfast
talentreimaginedbb.png.png
LBV Hub Seminars
10 Jul 2025 - 10 Jul 2025

Choose Chorley for Business - Talent Reimagined Business Breakfast

Strawberry Fields Digital Hub, Chorley, PR71PS

08:00 - 10:30

Shaping Preston's future by remembering its past
1750160034867.png.png
LBV Hub Networking
16 Jul 2025 - 16 Jul 2025

Shaping Preston's future by remembering its past

Society1, Coworking Space, Preston, PR1 3LT

18:00 - 20:30

Chamber Summer BBQ
LBV Hub Social
17 Jul 2025 - 17 Jul 2025

Chamber Summer BBQ

The Borough, Dalton Square, Lancaster, LA1 1PP

17:30 - 20:00

Preston Tech Connection: Web3 is Dead. Or is It?
July Longer Banner.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Networking
29 Jul 2025 - 29 Jul 2025

Preston Tech Connection: Web3 is Dead. Or is It?

Society1, Coworking Space, Preston, PR1 3LT

18:00 - 19:30

Preston Freelancer Meet-Up: July
Longer July Banner.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Networking
31 Jul 2025 - 31 Jul 2025

Preston Freelancer Meet-Up: July

Society1, Coworking Space, Preston, PR1 3LT

10:00 - 11:30

Advertise with us

Reaching 50,000 members, our print, digital and event platforms offer a fantastic way to raise your business profile and help you grow.

Find out more LBV122 Online Graphic
Subscribe now

Weekly news bulletin