Disputes related to employment law are usually heard in the Employment Tribunal, the County Court, or High Court. Employment tribunals are judicial bodies aiming at resolving conflicts and disputes related to employment rights between employees and employers. The claims tribunals hear include the ones associated with discrimination, unfair dismissal, redundancy payments, and wages. It is vital to mention that employment tribunals are usually less formal than courts; however, they share similar features. For instance, tribunal hearings are open to the public, tribunals cannot provide legal advice, and evidence is provided under affirmation or oath. In general, the claims associated with a breach of a statute are brought in the employment tribunal and the ones involving a breach of the common law are heard in the courts. It is crucial to mention that employment tribunals do not work with the claims related to personal injuries, intellectual property, obligations of confidence, and accommodations for employees. Such claims should be filed in the courts discussed below.
Figure below presents the instances an employment tribunal claim can go through; the first one is the employment tribunal. Employment tribunals are bound by the decision made by higher-level courts, including the Court of Appeal, the Supreme Court, and the European Court of Justice. Employment Appeal Tribunals appeals from decisions of the Employment Tribunal and are not bound with their previous decisions. Appeals against these legislatures are heard in the Court of Appeal and, then, in the Supreme Court. The European Court of Justice has 27 judges; all national courts and tribunals can refer to this court when the issues involve European law. The decisions made by the European Court of Justice have a significant impact on national employment laws.
