Reduce the risk of employment tribunal claims

Avoiding problems that can lead to tribunal claims

It is now a legal requirement that you give your employees a written statement of your dismissal, disciplinary, and grievance procedures. These procedures must reflect new minimum statutory requirements. Failure to provide these documents will result in an employee being awarded an extra four weeks' pay if they win against you in an employment tribunal. Failure to follow the statutory procedure when dismissing an employee will lead automatically to a finding of unfair dismissal at a tribunal.

Acas has published a new code of best practice guidelines to deal with the new statutory discipline and grievance procedures. While not obligatory, the code is taken into account by employment tribunals. Download the revised code of practice for disciplinary and grievance procedures from the Acas website (PDF).

Professional employment policies give employers a greater chance of successfully defending themselves if a case is brought to tribunal, so long as the policies are put into practice and the procedures are followed correctly.

Some disputes can be avoided by following good practice - see our good practice guide for employers to follow to avoid tribunal claims.

Find out about resolving disputes in the workplace at the DTI website.

Subjects covered in this guide

• Introduction
• Problems that can lead to a tribunal claim
• Avoiding problems that can lead to tribunal claims
• Top tips to avoid an employment tribunal claim
• Where to get help with employment relations

 

 Print This Page

Source - Business Link; Crown Copyright.