A LANCASHIRE employment expert has welcomed the news that the Government has set aside 37 million to reduce the number of employment tribunals taking place.
According to Steven Meyerhoff, employment expert at Backhouse Jones Solicitors, Clitheroe, statistics show that in 2006/07 there were a record 132,577 employment tribunal claims ñ an increase of 15 per cent from the 2005/06 figure.
Now the Government has pledged millions to be spent over the next three years, allowing the conciliation service Acas to help parties in dispute resolve matters informally rather than through a costly tribunal process.
Pilot programs are due to run over the next 12 months, before the scheme becomes national in 2009.
Mr Meyerhoff said: ìEmployment tribunal claims are unfortunately a part of life for many businesses.
ìThey are costly ñ not just to the Government ñ but to the businesses themselves who, if they elect to defend a tribunal claim are likely to shell out a lot of money over the course of a tribunal in legal fees.
ìWhen considered with the potential awards that successful claimantís can receive, most businesses simply cannot afford the financial burden it can place on them.
ìThey can also be highly unpleasant for all the parties involved, so I welcome the news. If both parties work closely together with their legal representatives from an early stage, more often than not a solution can be found before a tribunal becomes necessary.î
Government pledges extra cash to reduce employment tribunal burden
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