UK Employment Tribunal Backlog Hits 74,320 Cases as Disposal Time Stretches to 59.6 Weeks
Updated
Updated · Insurance Edge · Jun 23
UK Employment Tribunal Backlog Hits 74,320 Cases as Disposal Time Stretches to 59.6 Weeks
2 articles · Updated · Insurance Edge · Jun 23
Summary
74,320 employment tribunal cases were open in April, the highest on record, while the average time from claim receipt to disposal rose to 59.6 weeks—nearly three months longer than a year earlier.
52,840 new single and lead-multiple cases arrived in 2025/26, up 36% from 2024/25, while disposals fell almost 13% to 27,379, widening the gap between incoming and resolved claims.
More than 530,000 total claims are now outstanding across single and multiple actions, affecting as many as 70,000 businesses and over half a million people, according to ARAG's analysis of HMCTS data.
January 2027 could add further strain: the Employment Rights Act 2025 cuts the unfair-dismissal qualifying period to six months from two years, and government analysis projected 6,900 additional cases.
With legal claims taking years to resolve, will UK businesses become too afraid to hire new staff?
As new laws grant more worker rights, is the UK's broken tribunal system creating promises it cannot keep?
500,000+ Claims and Counting: The UK Employment Tribunal Backlog, Its Human Toll, and the Push for Reform
Overview
By mid-2026, the UK Employment Tribunal system faces a severe and growing backlog, with over half a million people and 70,000 businesses caught in unresolved claims. Many cases are expected to take years to resolve, causing prolonged uncertainty and distress for everyone involved. This crisis has led to mounting pressure on the system, prompting legal organizations to call for radical reforms. In response, the government’s Keep Britain Working review has endorsed fast-tracking alternative dispute resolution methods to help ease the strain and speed up case outcomes, aiming to restore confidence and efficiency in the tribunal process.