Explain role of employment tribunals. (8 marks)

Question 1

What are employment tribunals?

Answer 1

• Wider system, work alongside courts in separate building.
• Alternative system of adjudication.
• Independent, unbiased and impartial.
• Hear disputes between employers and employees, where employee treated unfairly. (Equality Act 2010).

Question 2

What are they made up of?

Answer 2

• Panel made of three members
• Legally qualified chair, Employers representative and employees representative.

Question 3

What’s good about them?

Answer 3

• Procedure is less formal, panel on same level as parties. Both sides give a case and legal representation is common.
• Hearings are public and cases can be high profile. 2020 case against BBC equal pay.
• Hearings are short, and legally binding.
• In 42 days, appeals can be made to Employment Appeal Tribunal.