How Long Does An Employment Tribunal Take?

According to data from the Ministry of Justice, between April 2020 and March 2021, an Employment Tribunal claim took an average of 335 days to reach its first hearing. 

Bear in mind that the tribunal may not make a decision at the first hearing. It could be an administrative hearing or a hearing to resolve one element of the claim only.

Pre-Covid, in the last quarter of 2019, the average time from the start to finish of a tribunal claim was 36 weeks. The vast backlog of cases built up during the pandemic has created significantly longer delays.

The Tribunals service has implemented video hearings, which look to be here to stay. 

Tribunal hearings typically last between one day and a week, depending on the case’s complexity. Simple cases may be resolved in a single day, while more complicated matters, especially if multiple witnesses are involved or if there are significant legal issues to resolve, can extend the hearing duration.

The commercial implications of such prolonged proceedings for employers are far from ideal. Such delays can put a former employee under tremendous strain while waiting for the case to be heard. Employment Tribunal delays are leading some people to explore taking the arbitration route with ACAS in hopes of reaching a speedier conclusion.