You may have heard that fees to access Employment Tribunals were abolished by the Supreme Court earlier this year, but what does it actually mean for pharmacies?

Fees for those bringing employment tribunal claims have been ruled unlawful, and the government will now have to repay up to £32m to claimants.

Here is what we know at this stage.

What is happening in the aftermath of the judgment?

For those individuals who paid fees at an Employment Tribunal or Employment Appeal Tribunal between July 2013 and July 2017, they can now apply for a refund. This includes employers, so if you were ordered by a tribunal to reimburse the fees of an employee who brought a claim against you and you have evidence that demonstrates this, you can apply for a refund.

So what does this all mean for pharmacies?

The latest statistics show that the number of single claims to Employment Tribunals has increased significantly. Since the second quarter of 2014/15, the number of single claims has been ‘relatively stable’ with approximately 4,200 claims made per quarter. However, between July and September 2017, it rose to 7,042 claims.

This shows that it’s time for all pharmacy owners to make sure their employment practices can stand up to scrutiny.

To do this, here are four key tips for your pharmacy:

1. Make sure all your employees are on the right contract and you understand the obligations for each type of contract.
2. Review your Employee Handbook to make sure that you have clear and robust policies and procedures in place which comply with current legislation.
3. Make sure all managers have been suitably trained in HR and Employment Law matters.
4. Seek legal advice when dealing with complex workplace issues, for example grievances, dismissal and TUPE.

To discuss the impact on your pharmacy, call the NPA Employment Law Advisory Service Team on 0330 123 0558 or email employmentadvice@npa.co.uk to find out more. 

Author:  NPA Employment Advisory Service Team