Please sign in with your existing account details.
Register to access exclusive content, sign up to receive our updates and personalise your experience on brownejacobson.com.
Privacy statement - Terms and conditions
Forgotten your password?
You have exceeded the maximum number of login attempts for this email address and your account has been locked. An email has been sent to member of Browne Jacobson's web team and some one will be contacting you over the next two working days with details of how to change your password.
Are you sure you want to remove this item from you pinned content?
In the recent case of K Mehta v Child Support Agency the EAT has provided guidance on reading witness statements aloud in employment tribunals, suggesting no value is added by the practice and that it wastes tribunal time.
An odd procedure, those more familiar with civil courts may think. But what exactly are the pros and cons of reading a witness statement aloud?
These will mainly depend on the quality of the statements. The more direct input the witness has into their statement the more natural it will sound when read aloud, enhancing credibility. Witnesses who have had no input into their statement will sound foreign and may incur the embarrassment of tripping over unfamiliar words.
Whether dispensing with the need to read a statement aloud will in practice have the desired effect of reducing tribunal time, and therefore reducing costs, remains to be seen. It could mean that representatives will simply spend more time asking supplemental questions and in cross examination.
The Government has been firm that there will be no extension to the current Job Retention Scheme which is due to end on 31 October. However yesterday saw the announcement of the Job Support Scheme.
View blog
The Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (Self-Isolation) (England) Regulations 2020 come into force today. Find out what is says here.
At a time when Tribunal resources are being increasingly stretched, this case should act as a reminder for both parties.
There is currently a backlog of employment tribunals – with the number of cases being dealt with rising by 26% since March, and expected to continue to rise with the end of the current Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme next month.
Senior Associate
Select which mailings you would like to receive from us.
Sign up