Solicitors Nelson, Burnley

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What the Supreme Court's ruling on employment tribunal fees means for employees

Last month, the Supreme Court ruled that employment tribunal fees implemented by the government in 2013 are unlawful and must be amended.The decision is great news for employees, and in this article, we take a look at how the Supreme Court's ruling can affect those who have suffered unfair treatment at work.If you wish to contact an expert solicitor to discuss any of your employment law requirements, then contact Farnworth Rose today by calling 01282 695 400 now.

What exactly is being changed?

Back in 2013, the government made the decision to introduce employment tribunal fees of up to £1,200 for an employee to have their case heard.At the time, the government claimed this change would vastly reduce the number of cases which they described as weak and malicious.However, the following three years saw a 79% reduction in the number of employees to take action against their employers with almost no change in the success rate of claims. This figure prompted trade unions and employment lawyers to argue that the fees were not allowing workers to seek the justice that they deserve.And now with the Supreme Court's ruling on the matter, The Ministry of Justice has declared:

'We will take immediate steps to stop charging fees in Employment Tribunals and put in place arrangements to refund those who have paid.'

Although the future is bright for employees who wish to take legal action against their employer, we are not fully sure how the situation regarding employment tribunal fees will pan out.The most likely outcome we believe is that the government will issue a consultation paper, before eventually reducing fees to a lower level.

Have you already paid employment tribunal fees?

Since the fees were introduced, the government has raised around £32million through employment tribunal cases.The government has now voluntarily committed to reimburse all those who were charged unlawfully to have their case heard.So if you have paid for your employment tribunal since fees were introduced in 2013, then you may be entitled to claim for a refund.

Are you looking to make an employment claim?

If you are now considering the decision of making a claim against your employer, it is vital that you pursue legal advice as soon possible.At Farnworth Rose Solicitors we have an experienced employment law team who can assist you throughout the entire process of making your claim.One of our dedicated solicitors will provide step by step advice to guide you through the process that will eventually end up with you securing justice for your ordeal!

Contact Farnworth Rose today!

The specialists at Farnworth Rose can help you with not only any employment law queries that you may have, but also many more additional legal fields that we excel in.To see all the legal services that we offer, check out our services page here.Or to directly speak with one of our dedicated legal team members, give us a call today on 01282 695 400 now.