The Tribunals Service reports that employment tribunal claims increased 56% over the past year. It is not unusual for claims to rise during a downturn -- as workers are laid off or made redundant, and face other problems in the workplace due to increased pressure/tension -- but the report suggests that the increase is also down to a rise in the number of so-called "multiple claims".
- "Multiple claims" occur where two or more people bring cases, involving one or more claims (e.g., unfair dismissal, race discrimination, etc) usually against a single employer but not necessary so, for instance in cases involving business transfers and takeovers, and always arising out of the same or very similar circumstances. As a multiple, the cases are processed together.
Increase/decrease in claims by type between 2008-9 and 2009-10
| Claim type |
% increase/decrease |
| Working Time Directive |
397 |
| Race discrimination |
149 |
| Unauthorised deductions from pay |
123 |
| Redundancy pay |
76 |
| Transfer of an undertaking - failure to inform and consult |
38 |
| Age discrimination |
37 |
| Redundancy - failure to inform and consult |
34 |
| Breach of contract |
31 |
| Written pay statement |
27 |
| Written statement of terms and conditions |
21 |
| Discrimination on grounds of religion or belief |
20 |
| Discrimination on grounds of sexual orientation |
18 |
| Disability discrimination |
14 |
| Unfair Dismissal |
9 |
| Pregnancy-related dismissal or detriment |
6 |
| Written statement for dismissal |
no change |
| Sex discrimination |
-2 |
| Others |
-13 |
| National minimum wage |
-17 |
| Equal pay |
-18 |
| Part time worker regulations |
-20 |
