ET claims on the rise as predicted following fees’ abolition

The number of ET claims in England and Wales rose by 66 per cent in the three months following the abolition of fees in July 2017. The largest increase was in single claims for unfair or wrongful dismissal which were up by 64%. As expected Tribunals’ outstanding caseload also rose, by 37 per cent. If the first quarter totals were continue at the same rate then claims could reach 120,000 annually for 17/18. This compares to 88,476 tribunal applications in 16/17, 83,031 in 15/16 and 61,308 in 14-15. In the year before fees were introduced 105,803 employment tribunal claims were brought.