These are the questions currently running through employees minds when severing their employment today. Whilst the Employment Rights Act 2025 extends the time limit from bringing most claims, such as unfair dismissal, from three to six months in October, Tribunals are already reporting a wait of up to four years. Perhaps more people will be prepared to negotiate hard a good settlement agreement now?
A judgment was handed down by the Court of Appeal recently considering the criteria required when applying to seek permission to re-open an appeal or a permission to appeal application. A panel of two Lord Justices of Appeal refused, after an oral hearing, to re-open a permission to appeal application. The respondents did not appear but some had sent in short written representations objecting to the application to re-open the permission to appeal decision.
It is interesting to note that the Lord Justice of Appeal, who originally refused the permission to appeal application on paper, had recused himself for another Lord Justice to order at an oral hearing that the application to re-open be adjourned to a further oral hearing before a two-judge court.
Therefore, in total, four Court of Appeal judges considered the case.
Business confidence is very poor sparking a large increase in settlement agreements high street solicitors are reporting in conditions not witnessed since the pandemic. London appears to be being hit heavily, notably east London, and those under 35. The hospitality and retail sectors are particularly affected.