Those of you who have been to tribunal...

[DabOfPistachio]

I'm having a lot of trouble with my work at the moment. I don't want to go into specific details as its outing but it covers breaches of various statutory items, discrimination on more than one protected characteristic and affects more than one employee. This is at high level management level and includes poor behaviour from HR. It is incredibly stressful and I am fed up.
At the moment, I am keeping my head down but am trying to decide what to do about it. I can just go look for a new job but I have been there a long time, and other than these particular issues, I really enjoy the job.
I'm talking to my union and am convinced we have a very strong case but haven't quite decided whether I want the stress of a fight or whether it's better for me to try find another job.
I guess my question is for those of you who did start getting unions involved and solicitors, possibly proceeding to tribunal, was it worth it? Was the stress worth it in the end?

I got as far as solicitors/settlement agreement for discrimination . The stress was worth it in that I got a resolution, however the amount of stress I went through it wasn’t worth going to tribunal and dragging it out for 12-18 months. The one thing I would say as it’s something I knew about but didn’t do enough of, is keeping a diary of incidents/issues as I didn’t know how important the evidence would be. Also keep an eye on the time limits to go to ACAS/tribunal. Might be worth having a free consul with a solicitor to give you a different perspective to the union. Wishing you all the best, it’s so unnecessary stressful and horrid

Likewise, i got a settlement through my union but they do
warn you of how
stressful and lengthy it can be

It is very difficult to sue your employer for discrimination and remain working for them with a good working environment, so ultimately you’ll be looking for another job.

ET waiting times are typically a year, longer in London.

first step would be to raise a grievance and make them aware of your complaints

They are very aware of the issues as I have had discussions around it although I've not (yet) formally raised a grievance. They are reacting to people raising issues as having problems with 'troublemakers'. There are also other issues other than discrimination too.
Ideally, at minimum I'd like to be able to get them to consult their own solicitors and have a bit of a wake up call in needing to obey the law for my whole business area. I'm going to try speak to acas this week.

What outcome are you actually looking for here?

Once you do this, you can no longer realistically work there. So the outcome can't be to fix the issue and stay in the job you otherwise enjoy.

If your goal is to give them a wake up call/punish them, then fine. But at what cost to you? And will they even take any lessons on board?

Honestly, I'm not sure yet. I'm still in the stage of weighing up my options and deciding whether I should just leave.
I'm not really looking for help in making a decision on what to do next. I'm hoping to see a solicitor in the next week or two and will get advice there and that will hopefully help me better understand what outcomes might be realistic. I'll make a decision then.
My main purpose in posting here is just to ask those who have been through the process whether they thought it was worth the stress as I imagine that might be substantial and that's something I need to take into account.

Put in a grievance first and try to get others to do the same! If there’s a few they can’t ignore whatever is going on. I was in a toxic environment and wished I’d done that now! My ex boss is now being investigated which is not before time.

Ideally, at minimum I'd like to be able to get them to consult their own solicitors and have a bit of a wake up call in needing to obey the law for my whole business area.

That won't happen. They'll just see you as a troublemaker to dispose with then carry on.

You should also be aware that tribunal hearings are held in public, can be reported in the press, and the decisions are published and available to the public to read. So if your employer trashes you, airs all your faults and mistakes, assassinates your character, dredges up errors of judgement you made, or the judge condemns your conduct - that's all on the public record for anyone to read about you forever.

For that alone it's not worth it, not for what you describe and the outcomes you want.

I am in a similar place as you OP/dealing with similar issues.

I have just raised a grievance against my line manager because I have just had enough. I am only at the beginning of the process and yes I is extremely stressful already.

But it came to a point where I just can't do my job with what is being done (exclusion from meetings, undermining, disability discrimination...).

Also, I am entirely prepared to leave this job and I know that the best option is for me to negotiate a basic settlement before it even goes to tribunal.

''@medievalpenny
You should also be aware that tribunal hearings are held in public, can be reported in the press, and the decisions are published and available to the public to read.''

Yes, but that is also the reasons why some companies settle before it goes to court. The organisation I work for makes a big song and dance of running projects for vulnerable, disabled and disadvantaged people to get funding from local authorities and trying to get grants from trusts and foundations. Staff suing them for disability discrimination is not a good look for them...

You should also be aware that tribunal hearings are held in public, can be reported in the press, and the decisions are published and available to the public to read. So if your employer trashes you, airs all your faults and mistakes, assassinates your character, dredges up errors of judgement you made, or the judge condemns your conduct - that's all on the public record for anyone to read about you forever.
I'm absolutely fine with this. They've got nothing on me. I'm good at my job. I've only ever had positive performance reviews. The only conflicts I've had have been where, as a manager, I've been told to push things I know have gone against statutory requirements and I have (politely) and via email (so in writing) explained why thats not possible. I suppose they can try to make stuff up but they'll have no evidence for it. I, on the other hand, have documented everything. I do think I could go in with my head held high.

You will be perceived as a trouble maker as they do have to pay a fee even to consult their solicitor.

If you pursue this it will be incredibly stressful, and much harder to win whilst you are still employed there. If you resign, it might allow you to pursue ”constructive dismissal”, easier to win but still requires evidence.

The strength of the case usually depends more on evidence.

If you take an employer all the way to tribunal even if you win, you will struggle to find another job. If you settle early, you will still have to leave and find another job.

It is far better to take your skills elsewhere and find another job then self destruct like this. Is it really worth it to teach them a lesson they are unlikely to learn anyway?

@beelegal ·''If you take an employer all the way to tribunal even if you win, you will struggle to find another job. ''

That's a really odd statement.

Previous employers have to be factual in their references if that is what you are alluding too, so can't just trash a former employee because the took them to an employment tribunal (unless they want to be back in front of another employment tribunal...).

Employment tribunals cases are not uncommon and of course people move forwards with other jobs.

Anyway I would not want to work for an employer who penalises job candidates for standing up for their rights against dodgy employers and employment practices.

''self destruct like this.'' That really is completely over the top hyperbole.