You probably heard in the news last week that former Apprentice winner, Stella English, lost her employment tribunal claim against Alan Sugar’s Amshold Group Limited.
The employment judge was scathing of her case and said it was a claim that should never have been brought.
Although this may look like good news for employers, it’s also a reminder that there is very little to stop a former employee bringing a claim against you, even if that claim is bound to fail.
Lord Sugar is quoted as saying that this case shows that employers should stand up to claims such as this.
“I have been cleared of a derisory attempt to smear my name and extract money from me. The allegations were without substance, and I believe this case was brought with one intention in mind – the presumption . . . that I would settle out-of-court . . . I’m afraid she underestimated me and her reputation is now in tatters. I have principles and I am not going to be forced to compromise them, no matter how much time and money they might cost me.”
That’s easy for him to say. He can afford to fight a case on a point of principle.
What about you?
Could you afford the fees involved in fighting a case on a point of principle?
The average legal costs involved in an employer defending an Employment Tribunal claim is £9,000. I suspect that it cost Alan Sugar at least three times that amount.
How to protect yourself
The Daily Telegraph reports that, although 1 out of 10 Employment Tribunal cases fail, 10 out of 10 cases leave the company with a large legal bill.
