The cases being heard at employment tribunals aren’t always about the big, serious issues like unpaid overtime or breaches of contract. Sometimes, the issues discussed in these tribunals are quite bizarre and would seem more suited for a movie or television drama than the courtroom. Claims have been filed because an employee felt that being called “messy” was considered harassment or that calling their boss “a dickhead” should be a legitimate reason for dismissal. Additionally, a case was brought forward claiming that younger, chatty workers were violating rules when they disturbed older colleagues.
Despite these cases being highly publicized, it is still relatively uncommon for employees to take such complaints to court. This is likely due to a combination of factors such as the abolition of legal aid for employment tribunals in 2013, which has made it more challenging for individuals to afford legal representation, and therefore, they may try to cover every possible angle when representing themselves in a dispute.
This means that the specifics that grab the headlines may not be the full extent of the case. For example, in the highly publicized case where a worker was awarded £30,000 after being compared to Darth Vader, the real issue was the detriment the person suffered after making certain “protected disclosures” as part of whistleblowing legislation.
Moreover, these tribunals are not simply a free-for-all for aggrieved employees. Judges have to carefully consider the facts presented to them, and the precedents they set are binding only on the case at hand, not necessarily on future cases.
And while the system does allow a wider range of issues to be aired, many cases are still dismissed before they ever reach trial. The real issue may not be that too many frivolous cases are getting through, but rather that the system is overwhelmed with work and is struggling to keep up, leading to significant delays in hearing cases.
As it stands, while the headlining cases can seem absurd, they also add a level of color and drama to the typically very technical and detailed process of employment tribunals.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/money/2025/sep/14/employment-tribunals-court-room-or-soap-opera
