The Employment Tribunal Service has published its annual review
of employment tribunal claims for the year 2006/2007.
The statistics show that the total number of claims increased by
15% from 201,514 to 238,546. That compares to 156,081 for
2004/2005. A fair chunk of this year's increase is attributable to
the proliferation of equal pay claims against local authorities.
Between them, equal pay and unfair dismissal claims accounted for
over 88,500 of last year's total. Of the newer jurisdictions,
claims of discrimination on the grounds of religion or belief,
discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation and age
discrimination numbered 648,470 and 972 respectively. The
legislation on age discrimination was however only introduced part
way through the year.
The average award of compensation made by tribunals in unfair
dismissal claims remains fairly modest at just under £8,000. In
discrimination claims, the average awards in race, sex and
disability claims were £14,049, £10,052 and £15,059
respectively.
It is still quite rare for tribunals to make awards of costs. Of
all the claims disposed of in 2006/2007, there were only 509 in
which costs were awarded. 166 of costs awards were made in favour
of claimants and 343 in favour of respondents. The average level of
costs awarded was £2,079.