Responding To Employment Tribunals

23 March 2006:

Employers have been warned of the importance of following proper tribunal procedures after a company was ordered to pay almost £49,000 to a claimant after missing the 28-day response deadline.

Music systems firm NSM Music missed the deadline for lodging its response form after receiving a claim of unfair dismissal from a former employee. Under the 2004 procedural rules, a tribunal has the option of entering a default judgment or ordering that the respondent take no further part in the proceedings when the deadline is missed.

NSM Music applied for a review, which was rejected, and then failed to lodge an appeal against the refusal of the review. The tribunal's decision, as un-reviewed and un-appealed, therefore had the draconian effect that the company was not only debarred from contesting liability at any hearing, but also the remedy hearing.

For more information contact Business Link Wessex by phone an additional briefing 'How To Prepare For An Employment Tribunal' or email them with any questions you may have or to discuss if you are facing a tribunal claim :

Tel: 08454 58 85 58

Email: [advice@businesslinkwessex.co.uk]

Website: [www.businesslinkwessex.co.uk]