Today sees the introduction of the employment tribunal fees by the UK Department of Justice. The introduction of employment tribunal fees mean that employees wishing to take their employer to tribunal will have to pay a minimum of £160 for minor claims with cost rising significantly for more complex cases. In addition, if the case goes to a final hearing, more fees will be payable.
Those employees who wish to raise a complaint against their employer are now left with four options
- Risk losing money.
- Leave the organisation – on bad terms.
- Put up with the dispute.
- Find an alternative way to resolve the dispute.
Workplace mediation offers all parties an alternative way to resolve their differences. Mediation is faster, cheaper and generally more effective than formal procedures. In addition, over 90% of cases that reach mediation are successfully resolved. Mediation is a well recognised and highly effective remedy to workplace disputes.
CEO of The TCM Group, the UK’s mediation experts, David Liddle, commented today:
“Mediation offers a credible and effective alternative to employment tribunals. With the introduction of fees, mediation becomes an even more attractive option. Mediation gives all parties in a dispute the opportunity to discuss the issues and reach a consensus. Even if the employee still decides to leave the company after mediation concludes, the process will have helped all parties to avoid the scars that unresolved conflict leaves behind. What we desperately need in the UK is for HR and managers to receive basic mediation and dispute resolution skills alongside the development of a well organised mediation profession.”
Kaynak : 