Figures published by the Tribunals Service recently revealed that claims for unfair dismissal were the most common by type in the period 1 April 2008 to 31 March 2009. There were 52,711 compared with 40,941 in 2007-08. This overtook the next most common category, equal pay claims.
Another major category which showed a rise in claims was breach of contract, up from 25,054 in 2007-08 to 32,829 in 2008-09.
Claims for age discrimination also rose: to 3,801 from 2,949 in 2007-08 and just 972 in 2006-07.
Redundancy pay claims shot up from 7,313 last year to 10,839 for the current year, while cases for redundancy procedure - failure to inform and consult - more than doubled to 11,371. The conciliation body, ACAS, said the rise in unfair dismissal, redundancy payments and wages cases followed the pattern set during previous recessions.
The Employment Appeal Tribunal has handed down a judgment in Da-Bell v NSPCC to increase the bands of damages that can be awarded for injury to feelings in discrimination cases.
The upper limits for compensation will now be:
£6,000 for the lower band (increased from £5,000)
£18,000 for the middle band (increased from £15,000)
£30,000 for the top band (increased from £25,000)
Claimants will undoubtedly want to make the most of this ruling by demonstrating, if they can, that their feelings were badly hurt.
Clients should continue to be vigilant and ensure that any assertion by an employee that they have been harassed or discriminated against is dealt with immediately.