Employment claims increased by 55% in the first quarter of 2026 compared with the same period last year, new official figures show.
It comes after Labour’s Employment Rights Act obtained Royal Assent in December. It represents the biggest expansion of workers’ rights in over a decade, giving employees new protections over statutory sick pay, unfair dismissal and zero-hours contracts.
The overhaul – which was championed by the former deputy prime minister – has been praised by unions, with the Trades Union Congress claiming that Labour is delivering “vital common-sense reforms for millions of people across the country”.
However, it threatens to pile more pressure on employment tribunals which are already facing an influx of claims.
Jo Mackie, Employment Law Partner at Michelmores, said: “The increase in claims will happen as employment rights are spoken about more openly as they have been in the last two years during preparation for legal changes.”
Many of the reforms under the Employment Rights Act are still in secondary legislation.
Mackie said growing discussion of these reforms meant that “more people [will] become aware of practices that may be in breach of employment law”.
Imogen Finnegan, Senior Consultant with workplace and commercial disputes law firm Bellevue Law, warned that the recent explosion in employment claims risked resulting in “longer timelines, increased costs and prolonged uncertainty” for employers.
She said this could also delay tribunal decisions for employees with genuine claims....<<<Read More>>>...
