UK Employment Tribunal Cases Surge by 39%, Backlog Jumps 55%

According to a joint memorandum issued by Barry Clarke and Susan Walker, Chairs of the UK Employment Tribunals, in March 2024, the number of cases received by UK employment tribunals rose by 39% year-on-year, while the backlog of cases increased by 55%. Some claims were submitted by employees using AI tools such as ChatGPT or Grok to draft their pleadings free of charge, resulting in numerous issues—including submissions running hundreds of pages long, citations of non-existent legal provisions, and unrealistic claims. The newly introduced Labour Party’s Employment Rights Bill adds 25 new grounds for complaints and removes the cap on compensation for certain cases, which could further exacerbate the case backlog.