New reforms for Employment Tribunal to deal with COVID-19 backlog

Paul Scully

The reforms aim to help the system hear more cases and open up court space to ensure a speedier resolution of cases.

The UK government said the changes will give the system more flexibility in light of the COVID-19 pandemic and allow tribunals to deal with increasing caseloads.

One of the changes being made will allow the judiciary the option of deploying non-employment judges into employment tribunals, as long as certain criteria are met.

They will also allow employment judges who normally sit in England and Wales to sit in Scotland and vice versa.

Rules around the use of virtual hearings will also change to allow more flexibility.

Announcing the reforms, Business Minister Paul Scully said: “The employment tribunal system has held up very well in the face of an increased caseload and the impacts of COVID-19- but these changes will boost its capacity further.

“These reforms will provide further flexibility to the system to ensure workers and businesses receive quick and fair resolutions to disputes, both at this critical time and in the future too.”

Courts Minister Chris Philip added: “These changes will provide speedier resolutions for businesses and employees alike, and are the latest step in our plan, backed by £80 million of funding and an additional 1,600 staff, to reduce delays and deliver justice.

“We are pursuing every available option including increasing the use of technology, rolling out further safety measures to ensure our courts recover from the effects of the pandemic as quickly as possible.”