The number of employment tribunal claims continues to rise according to the Ministry of Justice’s quarterly statistics for the period 1 July to 30 September 2019. Compared to the same period last year, single claim receipts, disposals and caseload outstanding all increased (by 38%, 4% and 40% respectively). For multiple claims, receipts decreased over the same period, by 10%, while disposals and caseload outstanding increased by 77% and 7% respectively.
During this quarter, 33% of disposals were dismissed upon withdrawal; 19% were Acas conciliated settlements, 17% were withdrawn, 13% were struck out (not at a hearing) and 9% were successful at hearing. The most common jurisdictional complaint disposed of was unauthorised deductions from wages (which was also the most common complaint in July to September 2018).
59 applications for refunds of tribunal fees were received (down from 140 in the first quarter of this year) and 170 refund payments were made with a total value of £364,000. Since the launch of the refund scheme in October 2017, 22,000 refund payments have been made with a total value of £18 million.
