2012 changes unfair dismissal rules and Employment Tribunal costs

The Coalition has announced that as from 1 April 2012 employees must have more than two years continuous service to bring a claim for unfair dismissal. The Government has not stated what, if any, transitionary provisions there will be. So employees who are protected against unfair dismissal now, in that they have one years service, may find if they do not have two years service by April 2012 that they loose their protection. One of the reasons for changing the unfair dismissal service requirement from one to two years was because a two year period was found to be indirectly discriminatory (on the grounds of sex as fewer women than men worked for more than two years in the same job). So this change could again be challenged on the grounds of discrimination. To avoid such a challenge the Government will have to show this is a proportionate response to achieving a legitimate aim (i.e. creating a more favourable business environment). Will there be such a challenge or will this lead to an influx of discrimination claims (for which there is no prescribed qualifying period) as employees who are no longer protected against unfair dismissal seek compensation via a different route? Watch this space. Our prediction? expect a big rise in age discrimination claims. The Coalition has also announced that fees will be introduced for Employment Tribunal claims a new and bold step. Employment Tribunals have historically been free to use (unlike the main civil Courts which have Court fees). Fees will be introduced from April 2013 and although not yet determined as expected to be: Fee for Claimant on issuing a claim 250. Fee for Claimant when hearing is listed 1,000 (and higher if the claim is over 30,000). These fees will be refunded to the Claimant if they win and forfeited if they lose, although Claimants on very low incomes are expected to be exempt from the fees. The ethos behind this change is to deter vexatious litigants who may not be prepared to put their hands in their pockets to pursue unmeritorious claims. However, it may backfire in that most claims settle before trial and the employer wishing to reach a settlement may just be facing another 1,250 on the settlement bill, as the Claimant will claim he will get this back when he wins. Swings and roundabouts; that is the merry go round of employment law.