The CBI has claimed that the employment tribunal system is failing businesses and individuals. It is meant to offer claimants and companies informal, quick and cost-effective judgements but, according to the CBI, the system is instead slow, legalistic and antagonistic.

In its submission to the Government’s Resolving Workplace Disputes consultation, the CBI has called for a package of measures to speed up the tribunal system, reduce costs for both sides, and make the system fairer.

The CBI sets out three key steps to delivering this:  

• Action to weed out weak claims and create the capacity to hear valid claims more quickly.
• Encouraging early agreement on a fair settlement.
• Improving efficiency when a case does reach tribunal.

Katja Hall, CBI Chief Policy Director, said: “It’s always regrettable when the relationship between employer and employee breaks down to the point where a tribunal claim is made. But when this happens, both sides deserve a system that is consistent, quick and keeps legal costs to a minimum. Instead, we are saddled with a tribunal system that is expensive, stressful and time-consuming for all parties.

“Surely it’s in everyone’s interests for cases with merit to be heard quickly and settled, while weak claims are swiftly identified and weeded out. We’d like to see more workplace disputes being resolved before they reach tribunal.”