Age Discrimination and Employment Tribunals

Employment Tribunal statistics for the year ended 31 March 2011

Overall, ETs received an overall total of 218,100 claims during 2010-11, an 8% fall compared to the previous year (but a 44% increase on 2008-09). Compared to 2009-10 this comprised a 15% fall in single claims and a 4% fall in multiple claims. There were 122,800 disposals during 2010-11, which was a 9% increase compared to the previous year and 33% more than in 2008-09. The rise in disposals was principally seen in multiple cases, which increased by 27% between 2009-10 and 2010-11.

For ET, the number of jurisdictional claims was 382,400 in 2010-11, meaning that there were on average 1.75 jurisdictional claims per case. In 2010-11, the total number of jurisdictional claims was 3% lower than in 2009-10 but 43% higher than the number in 2008-09. As at the end of the year a total of 484,300 claims were outstanding, of which 455,800 were multiple cases.

6,800 age discrimination claims were accepted in the ETs in the year, up 1,600 on 2009-10 and up 3,000 on 2008-09.

3,700 age claims were disposed of. Of these:

• 40% (1,500) were withdrawn
• 35% (1,300) were conciliated by Acas
• 10% (350) were struck out before hearing
• 3% (120) were dismissed at preliminary hearing
• 9% (320) were unsuccessful at hearing
• 1% (21) resulted in a default judgment

Only 2% (90) of age claims were successful, comparable to the ratio for discrimination claims in relation to other protected characteristics, which fell within a range of 2-3%.