BIS has started a consultationon Amendments to Employment Tribunal Postponement Procedures. The consultation is taking place as one of the concerns about the Tribunal system voiced by stakeholders is the time proceedingstake and unnecessary and short notice postponements can increase the length of the process, leading to additional costs for those involved.

In response to this, the Small Business, Enterprise and Employment (SBEE) Bill will include proposed measures amending the Employment Tribunal Rules of Procedure to limit the number of postponements that can be granted to a party, in a single case, other than in exceptional circumstances, introduce a deadline after which applications for the postponement of a hearing would only be allowed in exceptional circumstances and place an obligation on ETs to consider granting costs orders where late notice postponements are granted. The consultation closes on 12 March 2015 and the intention is to implement the new rules once the SBEE has received Royal Assent.

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