Economic downturn sparks panel recruitment drive

Employment tribunals struggling to cope with the deluge of claims created by the economic downturn are to be given extra help after a major recruitment drive.

The lord chancellor has approved 341 new appointments of panel members to employment tribunals. At tribunal, employment disputes are heard by a panel comprising an employment judge and two impartial panel members, one each with “employer” and “employee” experience. Panel members must have an understanding of employment law and experience of dealing with grievances and other workplace issues.

Jeremy Nixon, employment partner at Thring Townsend Lee & Pembertons, says the number of employment disputes had certainly increased. “In an environment where people are dismissed from one job and immediately go into another, they are less inclined to go to the time, expense and hassle of pursuing a claim before a tribunal. Where jobs are scarce, the opposite is true and people may well bring claims before the tribunal.

“Economists say that unemployment is a lagging indicator of economic activity. If this is right and unemployment continues at a high level then the number of tribunal claims will also remain high for a few years to come.”
Kevin Sadler, chief executive of the Tribunals Service says: “Employment tribunals have been under pressure in the last year, as we would expect in more difficult economic conditions.

“But the Tribunals Service is coping well with the higher workload and we have significantly increased the number of cases of which we have successfully disposed. We’re also providing more resources. Thirty five employment judges were recruited last year, the new panel members will increase our capacity and further fee paid judges are being recruited.

“These new members will help to ensure each case is fair and unbiased by providing added insight into employee/employer relations, helping the tribunal to come to its decision.”