How Much Does It Cost to Defend an Employment Tribunal Claim?

As solicitors specialising in employment law, RDC are well rehearsed in offering both comprehensive and thorough advice on all aspects of disputes involving employment. In addition to supporting employees, we also have plenty of experience helping employers directly. When faced with an employment tribunal claim, it is important to seek advice on how best to handle what can be a delicate situation to manage. One of the most common questions that employers ask is how much it will cost to defend an employment tribunal claim. So, here’s an overview that may be helpful.

Employment Tribunal Claims

There are several reasons why an employer may be taken to an employment tribunal by either an employee or someone else (for example, a trade union or a job applicant). Issues commonly arising may surround unlawful deduction of wages, unfair dismissal, or discrimination, and will be heard by a tribunal who will listen to you (the ‘respondent’) and the other party (the ‘claimant’) before they make a decision. Each claim comes with mandatory steps ordered by a tribunal, which must all be followed if you intend to defend the claim to the end. If you lose the case, you may have to pay compensation or reinstate the claimant.

Costs Involved in Defending an Employment Tribunal Claim

Costs involved in defending a claim can vary significantly. This is due to the fact that cases are very dependent on their complexity. For work that is privately funded, costs can range from £5,000 to £20,000 including advice and representation. There may also be fees for instructing barristers at any listed hearings that may arise during the course of the dispute.

Save Money by Seeking Advice Early

Here at RDC, we always recommend to our clients that they seek legal advice as early as possible. Not only will this ensure that your business can be adequately protected, but it also means that a plan can be put in place for your defence both quickly and efficiently. It’s worth noting that there are strict tribunal deadlines for defending claims. If you miss the deadline, you are at risk of having a default judgment being made against you, so acting fast is key.

RDC work with our clients to ensure the process moves forward swiftly so that the claim can be brought to an end sooner. If there are no reasonable prospects of the employee succeeding, we can request for the claim to be struck out entirely or negotiate an out of court settlement on your behalf if possible.

Liability Insurance & Legal Expenses Cover

It may be the case that you have legal expenses cover as part of your liability insurance. If you do receive notification of a claim, the very first thing to check would be whether you are covered by your insurance policy. Providing your claim is approved by your insurance company, you should be able to nominate your own solicitor to represent you. The insurance provider will then pay an agreed rate to cover costs.

Get Support with Defending an Employment Tribunal Claim

If you’re in a position where you need to defend an employment tribunal claim and want to find out more about the practicalities including potential costs, call us on Bingley 01274 723858, Ilkley 01943 601173 or Bradford 01274 735511. We offer comprehensive and thorough advice on employment disputes and, if necessary, can represent you before the Employment Tribunal.