Employment Tribunal Insurance

Table of Content

• What is Employment Tribunal Insurance?
• Limits to claims on Legal Expenses Insurance
• Employment Tribunal Insurance FAQ
• Aviva’s Blanc calls out industry sexism
• What is the average pay out at an employment tribunal?
• Why Choose The HR Dept Tribunal Insurance
• Meet the Team
• Darwin Gray’s Employment Law Protection Scheme

There is always a limit to how much can be claimed under the policy and each policy will vary, though the limit is usually £25,000 – £50,000. In some cases, an individual may be unfairly turned down and therefore it is important to acquaint yourself with the criteria and challenge any decision that should not apply to you. This may mean that you have to deal with a company which is not local to you so you cannot have face to face contact. Also, your case may be dealt with by a paralegal rather than a qualified solicitor or an experienced caseworker. Preventing claims from occurring through efficient people management and practices is one of the cheapest ways to avoid the significant costs involved with an employment tribunal. There are also various measures to secure at least a low-budget outcome if a claim is filed.

With an unprecedented number of ET claims being brought, many employers are finding out the hard way that ET claims are extremely expensive to defend, even those claims that are unlikely to succeed. In May,Aviva’s chief executive Amanda Blanc opened up about the sexism she has experienced in the insurance industry, saying it had gotten worse the more senior she became. The tribunal concluded it was an act of direct sex discrimination as he would not have snapped at a male colleague in a similar way. In another meeting, Llewellyn asked Sommer to take a “more submissive role”. The Central London Employment Tribunal ruled that she was unfairly dismissed and upheld complaints of direct sex discrimination, sex-related harassment and maternity-related discrimination. There is no ‘prospects of success’ test which other insurers misuse to try and avoid paying out on a claim.

What is Employment Tribunal Insurance?

We're the #1 insurance company among the Top 50 most attractive employers worldwide! This recognition encourages us in our journey to be admired employers in the industry and sustain our focus on attracting the best talent. The insurer’s lawyers decide whether you have a fighting chance and will only proceed with those that they deem have at least a 50 per cent chance of success. And, the best news is that we do all of this for an affordable fixed monthly fee, ensuring you don’t end up getting bogged down with legal bills. If you take a look at our packages below, you will see that we have three different options for you to choose from. We will also handle all of the other matters relating to an employment tribunal.

This means we can be very responsive and dynamic when you need advice and action. Legal expenses cover is usually limited to the cost of civil rather than criminal disputes. Divorce bills will also not be met, though valuable legal advice might be available for free for warring couples via an insurer’s helpline. Most will cover contract disputes, bodily injury, employment claims and property issues such as party wall disputes or nuisance neighbours. The most comprehensive plans will also cover disputes with the taxman, criminal negligence and identity theft, and will even pay out compensation if work is missed because of jury service.

Limits to claims on Legal Expenses Insurance

It is also important to check any other insurance policies held, such as car, contents, credit card, bank accounts etc… to see if the cover is included. Don’t be deterred if you can’t immediately find the words legal expenses insurance, it could be that the cover has been termed “family legal protection” or words to that effect. If in doubt, just call your insurance provider to get a clear and definitive answer. Fewer people are taking claims to employment tribunals since fees of up to £1,200 were introduced in 2013. Sex discrimination claims have fallen by 71 per cent, race cases by 58 per cent and disability claims by 54 per cent. On behalf of our Clients we will always try to avoid the receipt of an Employment Tribunal Claim, however, sometimes this is unavoidable.

One of the first issues many of my clients are concerned about when considering whether to start Employment Tribunal proceedings, is the cost of legal representation. I agree this is a very important issue and so I give clear guidance on funding options during initial client consultations, including using any insurance they may have. To know that I can depend on them for solid information and assistance is very reassuring. For anyone looking help with employment related issues I couldn't recommend Neathouse Partners highly enough."

Employment Tribunal Insurance FAQ

This includes preparing trial bundles and witness statements, liaising on behalf of the Trust Board and/or Governing body, as well as drafting a defence on your behalf. When you select your Employment Law solicitor, you should check that they have the necessary skills and experience relevant to your claim to ensure they are an expert in their field. Employment tribunals are less formal than other civil courts and strict rules of evidence do not apply. Parties are able to represent their own case or chose any person they wish to present their case. In completing a form your can also include the names of anyone you know that has been involved in a situation with the same employer and has equally filed a claim. Your case doesn’t have to be exactly the same as the person’s plus this could serve as an advantage to you in court.

So as listed and explained you can see that asides from money there’s so much more it costs to lose as an employer involved in an employment tribunal. Preparation for an employment tribunal takes a long time, which starts immediately after the lodge of a claim. Someone will have to spend time gathering pertinent information, communicating with legal counsel, preparing papers, and finally attending the hearing. Hearings might run through a number of days, depending on the intensity of the claim filed.

Aviva’s Blanc calls out industry sexism

The HR Dept can support you through this process and our Advice Line insurance covers these awards if you have followed our advice. Whilst it is not necessary to have a solicitor or lawyer at an employment tribunal, you may find it useful. Through managing the complexities, a solicitor or lawyer can make the process less burdensome.

The problem is that it's difficult for most employers to quantify what a claim is worth. Because of this, many companies secure expensive tribunal insurance policies to ensure they're covered in the event that something does happen. A more significant problem is that many employers don't need insurance or don't need as much insurance if they have proper HR policies and procedures in place. The best advice is to get familiar with the most common mistakes employers make to ensure you don't do the same.

As part of the IM Educate service, we offer an employment tribunal policy which will provide you with the added comfort that your fees are taken care of should you need to attend a tribunal. With ever changing employment legislation, it can be a confusing position to be in as a business owner. Crucially, our Advice Line package includes employment tribunal insurance that is backed with commercially driven HR and employment law advice.

If you don’t know which package would be best for your business, give us a call, and we would be happy to explain them further. In other cases, such as if you receive specific benefits, there are mechanisms in place to waive the fee. If you’re sending the form via post, ensure you save a copy of it before forwarding it. And in March, Lloyd’s issued a Notice of Censure and its biggest-ever fine in response to misconduct that took place at Atrium, a managing agent in the Lloyd’s market. It follows the company’s annual general meeting , during which Blanc and other female board members were subjected to sexist remarks.

• Claims that are submitted via fax and email, original with two sets of copies must be submitted within 10 working days to the Employment Tribunal office. Our lawyers are regularly asked to provide expert insight, advice and analysis for the national media. Take a look at the stories below to see what we’re saying, as well as some of the recent deals we have completed for our clients here in the UK and abroad. We have offices in major cities throughout the UK and our lawyers can arrange to visit you or your business in person if necessary. We also have international capability, with global links to other legal specialists.

One recent high-profile case where legal expenses cover was used was when Lucy Ward won a tribunal against her former employer, Leeds United football club. Not only will this cover account for legal expenses but also an agreed settlement and any awards that you need to honour after the tribunal. It is vital to have this sort of insurance in place, as legal expenses and claim settlements can easily cripple any business.