New Government commissioned research has found that over half of individuals awarded a payout following an employment tribunal hearing do not receive their award in full. The Payment of Tribunal Awards 2013 study examined whether awards were paid, reasons for non-payment and the effect of enforcement action. One of the most common reasons for non-payment was that employers simply refused to pay, so the Government is to consider new powers for judges to demand deposits from employers unwilling to pay up-front. This includes potentially making changes to the employment tribunal rules to give judges the power to demand deposits from businesses who they think might not pay up. The Government is also considering fixed penalty notices for late payment, naming and shaming employers who fail to pay out and what action it can take to make sure people get their award when a company has stopped trading.
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