Employment Tribunal Delays Continue to Grow: What the Latest Statistics Mean for You

If you’re thinking about bringing a claim in the Employment Tribunal—or you already have one underway—the latest figures for January to March 2026 tell an important story: the system is under significant strain, and delays are increasing.

A System Under Pressure

The newest tribunal statistics show that more claims are being brought than the system can deal with.

• Around 50,000 new single claims were submitted in 2025/26
• But only 26,000 were resolved in the same period
• That leaves a growing backlog, with 64,000 single claims still open by March 2026. In simple terms, cases are piling up faster than they can be processed.

This isn’t just a short-term issue. The number of open cases has increased sharply—up by around 55% compared to the previous year.

What About Group Claims?

The pressure is even more visible in large or group claims (known as “multiple” claims):

• 2,400 lead cases were started, but only 1,700 were resolved
• These cases represent tens of thousands of individual claims
• By March 2026, there were 467,000 open claims within multiple cases .This means that where many employees bring similar claims (for example, equal pay or holiday pay), the scale of delay can be enormous.

The Overall Picture

Looking just at the final quarter (January to March 2026):

• 22,000 new claims were received
• Only 11,000 were resolved
• Total outstanding claims reached around 531,000.

This clearly shows a system struggling to keep up.

What This Means for You

If you are considering a tribunal claim—or already involved in one—these figures have real, practical consequences.

1. Expect Delays

Hearings are likely to take longer to be scheduled than in previous years. It is not unusual now for cases to take many months, or even years to reach a final hearing.

2. Early Resolution Is More Important Than Ever

Because of the pressure on the system, there is increasing emphasis on resolving cases early. This could include:

• ACAS Early Conciliation
• Settlement negotiations
• Judicial mediation

Settling a case can avoid long waits and uncertainty.

3. Preparation Matters

With tribunals under strain, it is especially important to:

• Meet deadlines
• Prepare documents carefully
• Present your case clearly

Mistakes or delays on your side could make an already slow process even longer.

4. Consider the Emotional and Financial Impact

Tribunal proceedings can already be stressful. Longer waiting times can increase:

• Financial strain
• Stress and uncertainty
• Difficulty moving on from the situation

Understanding this at the outset helps you plan realistically.

Why Are Delays Increasing?

The statistics point to a simple issue: capacity has not kept up with demand.

More people are bringing claims, but the tribunal system does not yet have the resources to resolve them at the same pace. As a result, a backlog continues to grow.

Key Takeaway

The Employment Tribunal system remains an important route for resolving workplace disputes—but it is currently overstretched and slower than many people expect.

If you are bringing a claim, the key things to remember are:

• Be prepared for delays
• Explore settlement where possible
• Stay organised and proactive

Understanding the current landscape can help you navigate the process more effectively—and avoid unnecessary surprises along the way.

How can we help?

Contact our employment law team today for confidential, pragmatic advice for your employment or tribunal needs.

If you believe you have a situation where you require free legal consultation, please contact us on telephone 0116 212 1000
or 01858 445 480, alternatively complete our Contact Us form and we will get in touch as soon as possible.