Survey of ET Claims

Employment Tribunal applications are more likely to be made by men according to a survey published in March 2010 by BIS (Department for Business, Innovation and Skills) for the period 2007-8.

Results of the survey include:
• 60% claimants were men, even though they make up 51% of the workforce
• 86% were white, lower than the porportion in the workforce (91%)
• Claimants were more likely to be aged over 45, and less likely to be 16-34
• 82% claims of sex discrimination cases were brought by women
• Proportionally high numbers of claimants were in hotel, restaurant and finance sectors.
• 72% claimants were employed in the private sector, with proportionally higher figures (27%) for employers with 1-24 employees, 9% 25-29 employees, 19% 50-249, and 45% with 250+).
• Large employers were more likely to be involved in discrimination cases.
• The highest proportion of claims were brought by those in full time permanent positions.
• Compared to the whole workforce, claimants were much more likely to be in managerial occupations, followed by skilled workers.¬† The professional occupations were less likely to make claims.
• 58% of cases were settled, 39% through Acas and 19% privately.
• 12% of claimants were successful at tribunal and 8%were unsuccessful. 15% of cases were withdrawn. The remaining 8% of cases were dismissed or disposed of or had another outcome.
• 93% of settled cases included some kind of financial settlement. The mean settlement amount in cases involving money was ¬£5,431, while the median was ¬£2,000.
• The mean number of people involved in the case for employers was four and the mean number of days spent on the case was thirteen.¬† Most time was spent in cases where the claimant was unsuccessful at a tribunal hearing or where the case was dismissed. Cases where a discrimination claim was the primary jurisdiction also involved more time than other cases.

The full report can be found here.