天美影院

These disputes may be on issues such as:听

• unfair dismissal听

• 诲颈蝉肠谤颈尘颈苍补迟颈辞苍听

• 谤别诲耻苍诲补苍肠测听

• whistleblowing claims听

• breach of contract听

Hearings involve evidence, witness testimony and legal arguments and are decided upon by a judge sitting alone, or by a panel made up of:听

• a judge听

• a panel member with a worker鈥檚 background听

• a panel member with an employer鈥檚 background听

Before the Reform Programme, there were a number of issues with the process:听

• Panel members and HMCTS teams had to manually handle, transport and store high numbers of paper documents听

• Transportation of this paper had environmental impacts and caused bottlenecks and delays to cases听

• Forms weren鈥檛 intuitive or supportive, increasing the risk of human error听

• Claimants and defendants often needed to travel to buildings for hearings听

• Judges spent time making lower-level decisions, taking them away from complex matters that required them听

Our modernisation programme aimed to transform an outdated paper-based system that was struggling to meet modern expectations into an efficient, user-friendly service fit for the 21st century.听

叠别苍别蹿颈迟蝉听

Since July听2022, more than 17,500 people have made digital claims using the modernised service.听These people benefitted from:

• an end-to-end digital journey for submitting and managing claims听

• supportive, intuitive online forms and simplified procedures with reduced legal jargon, reducing the opportunity for errors听

• the flexibility of real-time case tracking and 24/7 access to case files听

• an increase in remote hearings which have reduced the need to spend time travelling, as well as additional environmental benefits听听

• faster progression of their case with streamlined administrative processes听

Changes to regulations also meant legal officers could be appointed to support judges with certain functions which they could in turn do more effectively through improved technology. This step ensured more efficient use of judicial time for more complex matters.听

Our digital transformation听

The journey to reform Employment Tribunals began in 2021. Public consultation showed strong support for modernisation and we began the process by developing and testing the new digital claim form (ET1).听

This would be the foundation of the modernised services, giving claimants (or their representatives) an accessible, intuitive form that they could access via 天美影院 and complete and submit online at any time.听

We then gave users access to two key digital platforms:听

• MyHMCTS - A specialised portal for legal professionals to manage and interact with case materials on behalf of their client听

• CitizenUI - An accessible interface for members of the public to access directly听

The national rollout completed in July 2024, transforming all Employment Tribunal offices. Throughout rollout, we鈥檝e made sure our staff have felt supported and clear on the role they play in having a positive impact on the tribunal process.听听

The online service is popular too, with 80% of all single claims now made digitally.听

Getting support听

While digital innovation is important, we鈥檝e maintained our commitment to accessibility:听

• Paper options remain for those who need them听

• Development of central printing facilities听

• Comprehensive guidance materials听

• Support for those without digital access or confidence听

Feedback and insights听

Users across the system have embraced the changes:听

Access to the relevant documents without waiting for either the parties or the staff to provide them鈥� it is a game changer. - Tribunal Judge听

The system/portal has great potential and should be a very useful and efficient tool for both users and HMCTS. - Legal Professional听

I don鈥檛 have to carry so much stuff around鈥� I can get what I need usually from the electronic file.听- Tribunal Staff Member听

Working together听

We worked closely with:听

• Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy (BEIS) - now the Department of Business and Trade - and the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) to consult on plans to reform the service听

• Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service (Acas) to make sure free advice would be available to those using the digital service听

• the judiciary as a vital partner at all levels听

Future plans听

We鈥檙e committed to continuous improvement through:听

• developing Service Centre support by end of 2025听

• implementing 鈥楲istAssist鈥� software for improved case listing听

• developing capability for handling multiple claims听

• enhancing system performance and improving how to navigate it further听

• introducing bulk printing and scanning facilities听

• refining user-friendly interfaces based on feedback from our teams听

Stay updated听

Keep informed about Employment Tribunals through:听

• For the latest guidance on making a claim, visit Make an Employment Tribunal Claim听

• by subscribing to our e-alerts and newsletters.听听