UK Employment Tribunal Claims Hit Record Levels in 2026

This article applies to England, Wales and Scotland.

Last updated: June 2026

In brief: UK employment tribunal single claims reached 11,857 in Q4 2025/26 (January to March 2026, provisional), up 58% year-on-year. The open caseload now stands at 36,733, having grown 136% in twelve months. The tribunal disposed of 5,450 claims against 11,857 received, adding roughly 5,950 cases to the backlog this quarter.

If you are dealing with a workplace issue right now, you are far from alone. Tribunal claims have climbed for nine quarters in a row, with thousands more workers each quarter taking action over unfair treatment, unpaid wages, and discrimination. This guide breaks down the latest official data so you can see where things stand and what it could mean for your situation.

The figures come from the Ministry of Justice's Employment Tribunal Statistics, specifically the Reform system data covering single claims accepted between Q3 2024/25 and Q4 2025/26.

How many tribunal claims are being filed?

Employment tribunal single claims have risen for nine consecutive quarters. Q4 2025/26 is the highest on record:

That Q4 2025/26 figure of 11,857 single claims is a 58% increase on Q4 2024/25, when 7,520 claims were filed. The rise has been unbroken across every quarter shown.

Each claim usually contains more than one complaint. The average sits at around 2.2 to 2.3 jurisdictional complaints per claim. Most claimants raise several legal issues at once: unfair dismissal alongside unpaid wages, or discrimination combined with a breach of contract.

What are the most common claim types?

Unfair dismissal dominates. In Q4 2025/26 (provisional), the ten most common jurisdictional complaints were:

Year-on-year figures compare Q4 2025/26 to Q4 2024/25. Because claimants often bring more than one complaint, the share percentages add up to more than 100%.

Three trends stand out. Whistleblowing complaints more than doubled year-on-year, rising 112% to 2,199, the fastest-growing major claim type. Disability discrimination grew 79% to 4,056 and is now firmly the second most common complaint. Breach of contract is the exception, the only major claim type to fall, down about 12%. The very small jurisdictions that also declined did so on volumes low enough that their year-on-year swings are volatile rather than meaningful.

The backlog: over 36,000 open cases

New claims are arriving far faster than existing ones are resolved. The tribunal disposed of 5,450 claims in Q4 2025/26 against 11,857 received, a clearance rate of 46%. That was its highest-ever quarterly disposal figure, yet still under half of what came in:

That is a 136% increase year-on-year (Q4 2024/25 to Q4 2025/26). The mean time to clear a claim has risen from 23 weeks a year ago to 36 weeks now, a 13-week increase in twelve months. For the slowest categories, such as equal pay, the mean is closer to 47 weeks. Our guide to the tribunal backlog and waiting times looks at what is driving the delays.

Why are claims rising?

Several factors appear to be at play. Economic pressure has driven more redundancies and restructuring, which often triggers disputes. Greater awareness of employment rights, particularly around disability, discrimination, and whistleblowing, is also a factor: disability complaints alone grew by nearly four-fifths in a year.

The Employment Rights Act 2025, which received Royal Assent on 18 December 2025, is widely expected to push claim numbers higher still. Its first major measures already took effect in April 2026, including day-one statutory sick pay and paternity leave, and the launch of the Fair Work Agency. From October 2026, the time limit for bringing most tribunal claims is due to extend from three months to six. From 1 January 2027, the qualifying period for ordinary unfair dismissal is set to fall from two years to six months, and the statutory caps on unfair dismissal compensation (currently the lower of £118,223 or 52 weeks' gross pay) are due to be removed.

Together, these changes are expected to bring many more employees within scope of unfair dismissal protection far earlier in their employment, and to raise the potential value of a successful claim.

What this means if you have a workplace issue

More people than ever are taking formal action, and the system is under real strain.

If you are weighing up your options, a few things are worth knowing. Time limits still apply: most claims must begin with ACAS early conciliation within three months minus one day of the issue (the extension to six months is not expected until October 2026). The backlog does not extend your deadline.

Most claims never reach a full hearing. On the latest disposal data, around 91% are resolved through ACAS conciliation, withdrawal, or settlement before a hearing takes place. Of the cases that do reach a hearing, about 44% succeed, though very few claims get that far. You can read more in our guide to what actually happens to tribunal claims.

Starting with a clear understanding of your rights and the strength of your position can make a real difference, whether you end up settling, going to tribunal, or resolving things informally. For complex claims involving discrimination or whistleblowing, you may want to speak to a qualified solicitor before deciding how to proceed.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many employment tribunal claims were filed in early 2026?

In Q4 2025/26 (January to March 2026, provisional), 11,857 single claims were filed, a 58% increase on the same quarter the previous year. It was the highest quarterly figure recorded under the Reform single-case system.

What is the most common type of employment tribunal claim?

Unfair dismissal is the most common, making up 51% of single claims in Q4 2025/26, with 6,091 complaints. Disability discrimination is second at 34%, followed by unauthorised deductions from wages at 28%.

How long is the employment tribunal backlog?

The open caseload for single claims reached 36,733 at the end of Q4 2025/26 (provisional), a 136% increase year-on-year. The mean time to clear a case is now 36 weeks, up from 23 weeks a year earlier.

What is the fastest growing type of tribunal claim?

Whistleblowing (public interest disclosure) claims grew 112% year-on-year to 2,199 in Q4 2025/26. Disability discrimination grew 79% to 4,056, making it the second most common complaint type.

Will the Employment Rights Act 2025 increase tribunal claims?

It is expected to. From 1 January 2027 the unfair dismissal qualifying period falls from two years to six months, and the compensation caps are removed. Extended time limits from October 2026 may also lead to more claims being brought in time.

How many complaints does the average tribunal claim include?

The average claimant brings around 2.2 jurisdictional complaints per claim. Most people raise more than one legal issue, such as unfair dismissal alongside breach of contract, or discrimination combined with unauthorised deductions from wages.

Sources

1. "Employment Tribunal Statistics, Tables ET_1_R, ET_2_R, ET_3_R, ET_4_R, T_3", Ministry of Justice / HM Courts & Tribunals Service, Q4 2025/26 (provisional) — GOV.UK Tribunals Statistics
2. Employment Rights Act 2025 — legislation.gov.uk
3. "Employment Rights Act 2025", ACAS — acas.org.uk