Source · Select Committees · Petitions Committee
Recommendation 15
15
Not Addressed
We also repeat our previous recommendation that the Government should extend the period in which...
Recommendation
We also repeat our previous recommendation that the Government should extend the period in which new and expectant parents may bring claims to an employment tribunal. The Government must urgently conclude its work to consider this change and clarify when and how it will be implemented. (Paragraph 51) Childcare accessibility and provision
Government Response Summary
The government's response focuses on current childcare provision, funding, and parental leave rights, without addressing the recommendation to extend the period for new and expectant parents to bring claims to an employment tribunal.
Government Response
Not Addressed
HM Government
Not Addressed
can access justice through an Employment Tribunal, under the Equality Act 2010. While the time limit for bringing a claim is three months, tribunals have the discretion to provide extensions where they consider it ‘just and equitable’ to do so. The Government continues to look closely at extending the time limit for bringing Equality Act 2010 based cases to employment tribunal. We understand the positive impact that this change could have, particularly in pregnancy and maternity discrimination cases. This decision, however, must also take account of wider impacts across the justice system, and therefore will be given sufficient time for consideration. We recognise that the pandemic has put additional pressure on the entire courts and tribunal service, particularly the employment tribunal service, and that restoring its existing levels of service needs to be the priority before additional loading is added. We will continue to engage with stakeholders as this work progresses. This will not only help improve our understanding of what impact an extended period could have on litigation behaviours, but also ensure that any new limit would be compatible with the realities of the Tribunal process.