On 2 November 2009, East London and Cardiff Employment Tribunals began a six month pilot scheme to hear some straightforward claims in early evening sessions.
The idea behind the scheme is to enable people to fit hearings around their work commitments and is in response to feedback from Tribunal users. It is also hoped that dealing with some claims in evening sessions will ease the workload of Tribunal staff and free up more resources for the more complicated matters.
In theory, this seems like a positive move, as it will enable straightforward matters to be dealt with without the need for people to take the day off work. However, the exact criteria for dealing with cases in evening sessions are not known. It is hoped that consent from both parties would be required, as there are likely to be implications for those with childcare responsibilities and possibly those with disabilities.
It will be interesting to see how effective the pilot scheme is, and whether it will be extended to other Tribunals after the six month trial period.
Submitted by Anthea Christie
