The Ministry of Justice has published its latest quarterly employment tribunal (ET) statistics covering July to September 2025, and the figures highlight a continued increase in tribunal activity and risk for organisations.
During the quarter, around 26,000 new employment tribunal claims were received. Just under half were single claims, while the majority related to multiple claims, reflecting the growing impact of group actions. Of particular concern is the ongoing backlog: the total number of open claims now stands at approximately 515,000, with open ET cases rising to 52,000. This represents a 33% increase compared to the same time last year, as new claims continue to outpace case closures.
The nature of the claims being brought is especially relevant from an HR and employment law perspective.
- Unfair dismissal remains the most common claim type, accounting for almost 24% of new cases.
- Disability discrimination and unauthorised deduction of wages claims also feature prominently.
- Discrimination claims overall now make up more than a third of all tribunal claims, continuing an upward trend.
- Increases were also seen in public interest disclosure (whistleblowing) and disability discrimination claims compared with the previous reporting period.
These trends reinforce the importance of having clear dismissal processes, compliant pay practices, effective absence management, and well-managed reasonable adjustments. Weaknesses in these areas remain a key driver of tribunal claims.
Looking ahead, further pressure is expected if the proposed Employment Rights Bill becomes law. The Government estimates that millions more people would gain the right to bring unfair dismissal claims if the qualifying period is reduced from two years’ service to six months. This would significantly increase exposure for organisations without consistent, well-documented HR procedures.
Now is an opportune time to review contracts, policies and management practices to ensure they remain fit for purpose and legally compliant.
Supportis can help by reviewing your policies, updating contracts, auditing pay and absence records, training managers, advising on flexible working and dismissal processes, and providing 24/7 insured HR advice to keep your business compliant. Call us on 0161 603 2156 or email hello@supportis.com.
