A staggering 86% of employers believe they will never be taken to an Employment Tribunal; according to latest findings by employment law firm Peninsula.
The news comes despite research which reveals that over half of UK employers have not implemented the recent raft of legislation introduced in October.
The survey reports that 62% of respondents have not take any action in light of the changes to the Disability Discrimination Act which extends the obligations to businesses of all sizes and requires employers to make ‘reasonable adjustments’ to their premises to ensure access for disabled persons.
The vast majority of employers (74%) have also ignored their requirements to review HR policies to ensure they comply with the provisions of the Employment Act 2002 (Dispute Resolution) Regulations which oblige bosses to implement minimum statutory procedures for handling dismissal, disciplinary and grievances.
Peter Done, managing director of Peninsula commented:
“It is alarming that despite the fact that employers have had time to prepare many have not implemented the new laws. From the survey many employers have said that the new laws were complex.
“This may be so but it’s essential that they introduce the changes within their work practices now and ensure they follow the law otherwise they may find themselves in breach of the law and paying out. 127,594 employees made an application to tribunal last year and I expect the figure to remain high in 2004. New legislation changes means that employers will have to dedicate more time to deal with the changes.”
A total of 1273 employers were surveyed.
Related articles:
