Employment tribunals are on the increase and are a real threat to UK business owners.  Tribunals are always time-consuming for employers and they can be extremely costly.

  If you employ people you are always at risk from employment tribunals.  You can’t eliminate this risk, but you can minimise it.

Here’s our 9 top tips you can use to reduce the risk of employment tribunal claims:

 

1. 1. 1. Contracts of Employment – We often find that many businesses don’t have employment contracts in place. Others often fail to update them with changes to salary, working hours and/or employment legislation.  The employment contract is your most important HR document.  They are essential points of reference that make managing people easier and tribunal claims less likely. You can download a FREE template from the resources section of our website.
       
      2. Disciplinary & Grievance – Set out your processes for handling these situations in your contracts of employment and make sure they are followed.  Proper process* can not only prevent tribunals claims, but they will significantly reduce the chances of any compensation awards against you should a tribunal take place.
       
      3. Redundancy – Following proper process is vital. Redundancy is a difficult time for any business and emotions will be running high.  Be fair in your dealings with your employees and supportive to those looking for new employment.
       
      4. Dismissal – Never dismiss a member of your staff on the spot however grave the alleged issue. You must always follow the correct procedure and taking time to step back before dismissing a member of staff is always advisable.
       
      5. Discrimination – All employers must comply with the Equality Act 2010. Review your processes to make sure they are not discriminatory in any way. If an employee makes an allegation of discrimination, we suggest you seek professional advice immediately.
       
      6. Training – As the owner of a company, you will be liable for any employment tribunal claim even if you weren’t directly involved.  Train your manager(s) to deal with disciplinary problems.  They must be  and are fully aware of – and follow – your procedures.
       
      7. Act – Dealing with situations quickly can often defuse situations and help to avoid employment tribunals. Don’t put off awkward meetings or allow unacceptable behaviour to go unchecked.
       
      8. Protection – You can protect your business against the cost of tribunal claims with legal protection insurance. All our advice line clients benefit from indemnity insurance.
       
      9. Seek advice – Make sure you’re following the right processes and deal with your HR situations as effectively as possible.  Seek advice from legal experts before you try and resolve people related issues in your business.  Expert advice will significantly improve your chances of defending an employment tribunal claim and may even avoid it altogether.

Following these guidelines will help you stay on the right side of law and out employment tribunals.  They should also help you provide a great working environment and establish better relationships with your employees. If you need any further advice or guidance, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with one of our experts. *Further information on correct procedures can be found in the Acas Code of Practice