Originally written by Partner Content on Small Business
No matter how well you run your business, there could come a moment when an employee takes you to an employment tribunal.
It’s a heart-sinking moment for any small business owner but you are not alone. Employment tribunal claims were up 26pc year on year in 2018/19 with 35,429 cases going to court. There was a 69pc increase in sex discrimination cases alone.
Some estimates suggest the annual cost to UK businesses of employment tribunal decisions could be more than £1bn.
An employee can take you to an employment tribunal over various issues, including pay, dismissal and discrimination. The tribunal is independent and will listen to both sides before deciding.
See also: Navigating the employment tribunals process
If you lose the case, you may have to pay compensation or reinstate the employee. If you win, in most cases, you will not be awarded compensation. But if the claimant acted unreasonably or their case had no hope of success, you can ask to have your costs covered.
And that doesn’t factor in the disruption to business continuity that tribunals can cause alongside loss of management time and hassle that being involved in a tribunal takes up.
How does an employment tribunal