Disputes at work claims 'highest in seven years'

There was an increase in the number of claims for discrimination at work, a group has said

A group which rules on disputes at work in Jersey handled the most claims in seven years, according to a report.

The Employment and Discrimination Tribunal report said the service handled 286 claims in 2024, compared to 232 the year before.

It said in 2024 there had been an increase in the number of claims for discrimination at work. Of the 286 claim forms submitted, 132 claim forms contained a total of 177 claims under the Discrimination Law - compared to 101 claims in 2023.

All the claims related to characteristics which were protected under law, such as disability, age and race, it added.

'Widely misunderstood'

The report also said Jersey law should be clearer about time limits for making a claim for discrimination at work.

Last year, the Employment and Discrimination Tribunal rejected 34 claims due to time limits.

Most were outside the eight-week limit for making a claim, and the report said the limitations were "widely misunderstood by claimants".

It said: "To avoid this happening there needs to be more education around limitation periods or the wording in the legislation needs to be clearer."