Employment law changes take effect
Two changes to employment law come into effect on 29 July in addition to the introduction of tribunal fees.
New tribunal rules are introduced which include a rule that an employment tribunal must, where appropriate, encourage parties to use Acas, judicial or other mediation, or other ways of resolving their disputes by agreement. A copy of the full rules are at: www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2013/1237/made.
In addition, measures in the Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Act 2013 are introduced which cap the compensatory award in an unfair dismissal case at the lower of £74,200 or 52 weeks’ pay.
In reality, few employees are ever awarded anything like this level of compensation in the employment tribunal, even if a claim is successful. The real impact of this change will be on perceptions, deterring employees from bringing tribunal claims — as of course will the introduction of tribunal fees.