Surviving the Tribunal: A Business Owner's Guide to Navigating Employee Disputes
If you run a business and have to go to an employment tribunal because a worker says you’ve done something wrong, like firing them unfairly or discriminating against them, it can feel pretty scary. You’ll want to know what’s going to happen and how to get ready. This article will cover the basic stuff business owners often wonder about when it comes to these tribunals.
What’s an employment tribunal, and why do they happen? Think of an employment tribunal like a special court that handles disagreements between you and your employees. If talking things out in the workplace doesn’t fix the issue, an employee might decide to take the problem to this tribunal. A group of three people usually runs the tribunal: one who knows about employee rights, one who understands the employer’s side, and a judge who knows employment law inside out.
Employees might go to a tribunal for things like:
How long does an employment tribunal take? It’s not just about the day in court. Before that, you’ve got about two weeks to pull together all your paperwork and evidence. Sometimes there’s a smaller meeting to sort out any confusing bits before the main event. The actual tribunal could be as short as half a day for simple cases, but don’t expect a decision right away – that could come a few days later.
What goes down at the tribunal? When you show up, a clerk will check what evidence you have and who’s going to speak for you. They’ll also ask if you have a lawyer. It’s a good idea to turn up 30 minutes early.
During the tribunal, the judge will explain the main points that need to be sorted out. You and the employee will both get to tell your sides of the story, and you’ll need to swear to tell the truth. After you both have spoken and answered any questions, the tribunal will make a decision.
What can happen after the tribunal? The big question is, of course, what’s the outcome going to be? It depends on the specifics, but the tribunal will decide either for you or the employee.
领英推荐
If you don’t win, you might have to:
Do you need a lawyer for an employment tribunal? It’s a smart move to get legal advice. Losing a case can hit your wallet hard and damage your business’s reputation.
A lawyer will help you gather all the evidence you need, like meeting notes and contracts, to build your case.
What you should remember As a business owner, you should try to avoid these tribunals by knowing the rules and treating your employees right. But if you do end up in one, it helps to know what to expect and think about getting a lawyer to help you out.