James’ comments have been reproduced with kind permission.
The data, published by the Ministry of Justice, reveals the scale of pressure now bearing down on a system that was already struggling before the latest wave of legislative change. Open caseload figures, representing Tribunal cases that remain unresolved and active, rose by 51 per cent during the same period, as receipts continued to exceed disposals over the last year. More than half a million claims are now sitting in the Employment Tribunal system overall, leaving employers and employees facing longer waits, higher costs, and prolonged uncertainty.
James Townsend, employment partner at Payne Hicks Beach, said the backlog in tribunal claims was a “stark” message for employers.
“Employment litigation is on the rise and employers cannot afford to be complacent, bearing in mind further looming changes under the Employment Rights Act 2025 designed to further strengthen workers’ hands, if and when disputes arise,” he said.
“With single employment claims up 28% year on year and the outstanding caseload up 51%, businesses are facing a materially greater risk of costly and time consuming.”
Click here to read more:
For further information, please contact James Townsend. Alternatively, telephone 020 7465 4300.
