No one enjoys dealing with employment tribunals—they’re stressful, costly, and time-consuming. UK businesses spent an average of 4.8 weeks on tribunal claims in the last two years, with nearly 45% of HR professionals spending up to six weeks managing cases (CIPD Report, 2024).
The Cost of Getting it Wrong
Tribunals hit productivity, morale, and reputation. Larger UK companies faced an average of 40 cases in two years, with unfair dismissal and discrimination claims being the most common (CIPD Report, 2024). Over 56% of claims stemmed from workplace grievances, like pay disputes and stress issues.
Why Investigations Matter
Managers often rush investigations, leading to errors. 62% of UK businesses settled tribunal cases before the final hearing, often because their case wasn’t strong enough (CIPD Report, 2024). With upcoming legal changes, the risks are only growing:
• The Employment Rights Bill removes the qualifying period for unfair dismissal claims (UK Government, 2024).
• The Worker Protection Act increases penalties for workplace harassment (UK Government, 2024).
The Fix? Train Your Managers
Many businesses are already taking action:
• 32.7% have trained managers in handling grievances and disciplinaries.
• 26.8% implemented fair dismissal training.
• 32.3% updated disciplinary procedures (CIPD Report, 2024).
Encouraging clear documentation and limiting informal messaging apps also helps keep everything on track.
Don’t Wait Until It’s Too Late
Good manager training isn’t just about avoiding tribunals—it creates a fair, well-run workplace where issues get sorted before they escalate. Trained managers can:
• Handle grievances professionally.
• Carry out investigations that hold up under scrutiny.
• Keep accurate records to protect the business.
Final Thoughts
If your organisation hasn’t yet prioritised HR and manager training, now is the time to start. A little investment in training now can save weeks of stress and thousands of pounds later. We are holding a number of workshops throughout the year designed to support business leaders and HR professionals. Please view the training workshops page on our website. We can tailor People Management training to your requirements. Contact your account manager or call us on 0141 459 7458 to discuss.
