Key facts
- Over 65,000 employment tribunal cases were awaiting resolution as of December 2025.
- The number of employment judges has decreased by 19% since 2022.
- The Employment Rights Act 2025 is projected to increase case numbers by 18%.
Claimants seeking resolution at the UK's Employment Tribunal are facing unprecedented backlogs, hindering their ability to enforce their rights, according to new research from the Work Rights Centre. As of December 2025, over 65,000 cases were open, a 43% increase in 12 months, marking the highest backlog since records began in 2017. This situation is exacerbated by a 19% decrease in employment judges since 2022, while the new Employment Rights Act 2025 is expected to increase case numbers by 18%. The Ministry of Justice has also reduced tribunal sitting days, leading to some hearings being scheduled as far as 2030, particularly in London. Lawyers report that prolonged delays cause emotional exhaustion for claimants, leading them to withdraw cases or accept meager settlements, and allow unscrupulous employers to evade justice. Migrant workers are disproportionately affected, with requests to give evidence from abroad being denied, forcing them to abandon their claims.