Tribunals trial ‘night shifts’ to reduce ‘day shift’ congestion
Two employment tribunal hearing
centres have started a six month pilot scheme which will see some claims being
heard during early evening sessions. The scheme is designed to enable people to
fit the hearings in around their usual work commitments and allow for more full
panel hearings on more complex issues to take place during the day.
During the pilot scheme at the East
London and Cardiff hearing centres, some of the more straight-forward hearings
will take place just outside normal ‘business hours’, from around 6 to 8pm, for
between one and two evenings a week. Claims which need to be heard before a
judge but do not require a tribunal panel or a full day’s hearing, for example
wages claims, will be scheduled for the early evening slots. The arrangement
for hearing more complex tribunal cases during the day will continue as before.
Tribunals Service Chief Executive
Kevin Sadler explained: “The pilot will enable people to fit the hearings in
around their usual work commitments. Our workload has gone up considerably over
the past year and the project is also about being more efficient with the
resources we have at our disposal. By listing the shorter cases during the
evening we will be freeing up the daytime for the more complex claims.”
Once the pilot scheme has run its
course the Tribunals Service will evaluate the take up and analyse how
effective it has been before making decisions about whether to extend the
programme to other centres around the country.
This provides summary information and comment on the subject areas covered. Where employment tribunal and appellate court cases are reported, the information does not set out all of the facts, the legal arguments presented and the judgments made in every aspect of the case. Employment law is subject to constant change either by statute or by interpretation by the courts. While every care has been taken in compiling this information, we cannot be held responsible for any errors or omissions. Specialist legal advice must be taken on any legal issues that may arise before embarking upon any formal course of action.
