New figures released by the Tribunals Service have revealed that age discrimination cases are now more common than those involving race discrimination.
Although sex discrimination is still the most common with 18,300 tribunals in 2010-11, age discrimination accounted for 6,800, up from 5,200 the previous year. The figures showed that employment tribunals overall were down 8% on the previous year though that still represented a 44% increase on 2008-09.
The figures also showed an increase in the backlog of claims and come as the government undertakes a review of employment law, with proposals for tribunal reform aimed at rectifying the problem. Two possible measures are for witness statements to be taken “as read” in hearings and for employment judges to hear some cases alone.