“Here be dragons”

I thought it might be useful to post up in a single “index” document a set of links to the posts I’ve published over the last few months summarising (and critiquing) the Coalition’s main changes to employment tribunal procedure. The key changes are as follows:

(As of April 2012)

a) Extending the unfair dismissal qualifying service requirement to new employees to two years
b) A change to the composition of Employment Tribunals, so that ordinary unfair dismissal claims are heard by a single judge
c) An increase in the amount of costs that can be summarily assessed by an Employment Judge to £20,000
d) An increase in the maximum deposit order to £1,000

in the Employment and Regulatory Reform Bill

e) The renaming of compromise agreements as settlement agreements
f) A requirement to contact ACAS and obtain their confirmation that pre-claim conciliation has been declined or was unsuccessful before filing a claim
g) Legal officers to determine certain employment tribunal claims
h) A cap on unfair dismissal awards
i) Fines to be paid to the government where an individual’s rights have been breached
j) Protected conversations once an employee has been identified for possible dismissal

Also under discussion

k) (subject to consultation) The ending of the statutory questionnaire in discrimination claims
l) (from summer 2012) Issuing and hearing fees for Tribunal claims
m) (to be introduced via Regulations) Mr Justice Underhill’s general review of the Tribunal rules