Employment tribunal reform project: HMCTS issues FAQ document

The HMCTS Reform Employment Tribunal Project has issued the first version of their Frequently Asked Questions document, providing guidance on the progression of the project to stakeholders. The project aims ultimately to deliver a digital case file, interactive web-based case progression system and automation of some processes currently carried out by staff.

As part of the Court and Tribunal Reform Programme’s transformation plan during the 2022-2023 period, HMCTS’s Employment Tribunals project aims to deliver a digital case file, interactive web-based case progression system and automation of some processes currently carried out by staff.

HMCTS has been consulting with senior representatives of the employment tribunal judiciary. A pilot project will soon be running to try out the ‘minimum viable product’ (MVP) version of the new system (ie containing just the essential areas of functionality required) in the Leeds and Glasgow tribunals only.

This first release will be tested with a limited number of claims in the pilot tribunals, focusing on single discrimination or whistleblowing claims brought by litigants in person, and will implement the acceptance, vetting, and service stages for these claims. A more user-friendly online ET3 will also be introduced as part of the pilot.

Ultimately, the reform project aims to allow everything to be processed digitally, with:

• a new ET1
• a new ET3
• better interaction with Acas
• service of claims
• a citizen user interface.

Users will, however, still be able to submit a paper ET1 or ET3 form instead if they wish. The project will include provision of bulk-scanning and bulk-printing facilities so that:

• paper submissions (ET1s, ET3s and other case management documentation) may be scanned into digital format within the system to enable them to be sent to people who wish to receive them in digital form, and conversely
• digital documentation in the system may be bulk-printed so that it may be sent to people in paper format who prefer that.

The FAQ document also contains information about MyHMCTS, an online case management tool for solicitors and other professionals. MyHMCTS will allow professional users to submit and manage online claims and responses for the employment tribunals. Initially, however, its use will only be allowed by representatives of respondents to cases selected for inclusion in the pilot scheme.

Further queries regarding HMCTS’s Employment Tribunals project may be directed to ETReform@justice.gov.uk.

Pro Employment Law

Formed in 2017, following significant legislative changes designed to increase competition within the legal services marketplace, Pro Employment Law is a progressive set of barristers’ chambers, consisting only of experienced employment law barristers, offering a full range of specialist advisory, case management, and advocacy services directly to the public through the Public Access scheme. We supply our legal services exclusively in the area of Employment Law to clients located across England & Wales. All of the legal services we supply are covered by professional indemnity insurance with Bar Mutual.