Employment tribunal changes came into effect on Friday 6th April that the Government claims will make it easier for businesses to take on staff, and improve the process when staff have to be let go.

More employers should consider using mediation at work to help resolve disputes and avoid potentially costly and stressful employment tribunal claims, according to workplace relations expert Acas.

The shopworkers union Usdaw has won compensation worth up to £67.8 million for over 24,000 former employees of Woolworths made redundant when the firm collapsed at the end of 2008.

New figures from the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) shows that small businesses will look to shed staff in the first three months of 2012, as it warns that the Government needs to be bolder in its changes to existing employment law to incentivise employment.