Employment Tribunal LIP

[kellysjowls]

How difficult is it?
My partner was unfairly dismissed because of discrimination.
It was from a small employer and they say they can't afford to settle or pay for lawyers/barristers, so it's possible they will be LIP too.
It's a very unfair situation and my partner is keen to stand up to them, we realise it's not ideal to be in this situation!

What is your question

It’s right there in the OP. Perhaps work on your reading comprehension skills?

To answer you OP - discrimination claims aren’t the easiest for a LIP. But ETs are very user friendly, and unrepresented parties get a lot of assistance from the judges. You don’t need a lawyer, but it can help.

You’d have to consider if they have the means to pay any compensation, though.

Have you got in touch with ACAS and started early conciliation yet?

You’d have to consider if they have the means to pay any compensation, though.

Agree with this. If they can't afford to settle or pay for legal representation, there must be a real question as to whether they would be able to pay any compensation awarded by the tribunal.

They will definitely plead they can't pay anything, and they will probably be right because they run the business on a shoe string.

It's not so much about the money, more the principle, and even if he won not expecting a big payout at all, and as you said very unlikely to get it anyway.

But DH is adamant that he was treated with discrimination (I agree) but we don't have money for solictors or barristers.

Going to court (or tribunal) for the principle is rarely a good idea. There is a lot of time and stress involved. However strong your husband thinks his case is, he may end up losing. Publicity about the case may mean other employers become wary of employing him. If there is little prospect of getting compensation, is it really worth it?

I seriously doubt there will be any publicity, ETs happen every day and I don't recall seeing the results of any anywhere?

I totally agree going to tribunal/court is always something to avoid.
But how else do you call people to account?
I appreciate the adage of turning the other cheek, but if no one ever stood up to bullies or exercised/enforced their rights then the bullies can just run riot.

DH already has another job, in a totally different field with people who share the same protective characteristic he was discriminated against for having.

I'm not worried about this affecting his future employment and I'm proud of him for standing up to the bullies, but obviously it's a situation he never wanted to be in and he doesn't relish the idea of a tribunal