Demystifying the Employment Tribunal process

Posted 12/11/2008

The ongoing effects of the credit crunch mean tough times for many businesses – with belt-tightening and staff cutbacks increasingly evident. If the worst does come to the worst, and redundancies become necessary, it is important employers know how to handle such a situation and are up-to-date with developments in the law.

Even despite the best efforts of employers and HR managers, claims in Employment Tribunal can and do result and, according to the Employment Tribunal Service’s annual report, claims rose by one third last year alone. This means that there is an increasing likelihood of employers being called to account for their decision making at a public hearing.

“Witnesses in Employment Tribunals can be poorly prepared for the experience and find the process of giving evidence harrowing in cases involving former colleagues” stated Ross Strowger, Partner in the Employment team at Ashtons Legal. Mr Strowger added “We strive to give our clients the confidence to deal with employment issues and, if the worst does happen, we aim to show how to prepare for and give evidence at tribunal with the same confidence to communicate their case effectively”.

Ashtons Legal will be staging a Mock Employment Tribunal at St Andrews House, City College on Wednesday 19th November 2008 in partnership with specialist barrister, Paul Strelitz, from East Anglian Chambers. Aimed at company directors, HR professionals and line managers who have responsibility for staff issues, its objective is to give the delegates a flavour of what to expect at a real employment tribunal.

Facilitated by experienced trainers, Mr Strowger believes that “attendees will be given tools and tactics that make a victory in the real world more likely, along with advice on pitfalls to avoid. We hope to demystify the process for attendees and give them the confidence they need.”

If you would like further information or are interested in attending this event, please contact Toby Whittacker-Cook on 01603 703070 or email toby.whittacker-cook@kcj.co.uk