Sector Report

Public Sector Tribunal Data Analysis

Employment Tribunal decisions and outcome patterns in the Public Sector sector from the last 12 months.

407Cases Analysed (Last 12 Months)

Final Public Sector decisions with at least one determined claim.

20%Success Factor

Proportion of cases won or split/upheld in our database.

80%Dismissal Rate

Cases lost or struck out due to procedural/jurisdictional issues.

↑ Strongest IndicatorRedundancy Pay (57% Success)
↓ Weakest IndicatorBreach of Contract (4% Success)

Showing 45 cases from the last 2 months.

Employers in recent Public Sector decisions

Browse the latest published decisions for employers represented in this sector sample.

22 Sept 2026
Outcome unclear

Discrimination and Harassment

All claims were withdrawn by the claimant and dismissed by the Tribunal.

Legal Issues (4)
  • Disability discrimination
  • harassment
  • reasonable adjustments
  • withdrawal of claims

Reference: 6020902/2024

21 Sept 2026
Claim dismissed

Unfair Dismissal, Discrimination and Other

All claims were dismissed on the merits after a full hearing; the Tribunal found no unlawful treatment or breach of the relevant regulations.

Legal Issues (4)
  • Interpretation of the Fixed-term Employees Regulations 2002 (less favourable treatment)
  • pregnancy/maternity discrimination under s18 Equality Act 2010
  • automatic unfair dismissal under regulation 10 Maternity and Parental Leave Regulations 1999 (duty to offer suitable alternative vacancy during maternity leave)
  • whether a lower-paid role must be offered with salary protection

Reference: 6012100/2024

18 Sept 2026
Claim dismissed

Other

The claim was dismissed as not well founded.

Legal Issues (1)
  • Not specified

Reference: 2306823/2023

17 Sept 2026
Claim dismissed

Unfair Dismissal, Discrimination and Harassment

All claims of unfair dismissal, discrimination (including direct discrimination, failure to make reasonable adjustments, and victimisation), and harassment were dismissed after a full merits hearing.

Legal Issues (5)
  • Unfair dismissal
  • direct discrimination
  • failure to make reasonable adjustments
  • harassment
  • victimisation under the Equality Act 2010

Reference: 6005496/2024

17 Sept 2026
Dismissed on jurisdiction

Discrimination

The tribunal held that judicial proceedings immunity applied to the decisions to dismiss the claimants, and that the EU law-based interpretation in P v Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis no longer applies after Brexit, so the claims were dismissed for lack of jurisdiction.

Legal Issues (3)
  • Whether judicial proceedings immunity applies to police misconduct proceedings under the Equality Act 2010 after the removal of EU law supremacy
  • interpretation of P v Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis [2017] UKSC 65
  • effect of the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018 on the Marleasing interpretation of section 42 of the Equality Act 2010

Reference: 1303890/2025

14 Sept 2026
Mixed outcome

Discrimination, Whistleblowing and Breach of Contract

Wrongful dismissal claim struck out (lost); other claims remain ongoing, resulting in a split substantive outcome.

Legal Issues (4)
  • Amendment of claim
  • strike out and deposit orders for lack of reasonable prospects and non-compliance with orders
  • time limits
  • the test for unfair dismissal in whistleblowing cases

Reference: 1801462/2024

11 Sept 2026
Claim struck out

Other

All of the claimant's claims were struck out.

Legal Issues (2)
  • The key legal issue was whether the claims should be struck out
  • but the judgment does not provide reasons or specify the legal basis for the strike-out

Reference: 6004706/2026

10 Sept 2026
Claim struck out

Other

The claimant's claims were dismissed because he failed to attend the preliminary hearing without adequate explanation, constituting a deliberate and disrespectful disregard of tribunal procedures.

Legal Issues (3)
  • Dismissal for non-attendance under rule 47 of the Employment Tribunal Procedure Rules 2024
  • consideration of overriding objective
  • alternative strike-out under rule 38(1)(d) for failure to actively pursue the claim

Reference: 6007641/2025

9 Sept 2026
Claim dismissed

Discrimination and Whistleblowing

The entire claim was dismissed because the whistleblowing claim lacked a discernible basis and the disability discrimination claims were out of time.

Legal Issues (2)
  • Whether the claimant had a discernible claim of whistleblowing detriment/dismissal
  • whether it was just and equitable to extend time for disability discrimination claims brought outside the statutory time limit

Reference: 6001777/2026

8 Sept 2026
Mixed outcome

Other

One claim was dismissed as out of time (final loss) and the other was allowed to proceed (not finally determined), resulting in a split overall outcome.

Legal Issues (1)
  • Whether the claims were brought in time and whether it was just and equitable to extend time under section 111 Employment Rights Act 1996 or analogous provisions

Reference: 6011655/2025

7 Sept 2026
Claim struck out

Discrimination and Unpaid Wages

All claims struck out as having no reasonable prospects of success.

Legal Issues (4)
  • Strike-out under Rule 38 of the Employment Tribunal Rules for no reasonable prospects of success
  • applicability of the high threshold for striking out discrimination claims
  • distinction between the respondent (employer) and a third-party leasing company
  • authority to make deductions under a Salary Sacrifice Agreement

Reference: 1805012/2025

4 Sept 2026
Claim dismissed

Discrimination

The tribunal dismissed the direct race discrimination claim in its entirety, finding that the claimant had not established primary facts from which an inference of race discrimination could be drawn and that the respondent's actions were based on genuine performance and progression concerns.

Legal Issues (5)
  • Direct race discrimination under section 13 Equality Act 2010
  • time limits under section 123 Equality Act 2010
  • burden of proof under section 136 Equality Act 2010
  • hypothetical comparator
  • just and equitable extension of time

Reference: 6020211/2024

4 Sept 2026
Claim dismissed

Discrimination, Unpaid Wages and Harassment

The Tribunal found no discrimination or harassment as a matter of law, and the wage deductions were authorised by the claimant's contract, so all claims were dismissed on the merits.

Legal Issues (7)
  • Time limits under the Equality Act 2010
  • direct discrimination (section 13)
  • harassment (section 26)
  • unauthorised deductions from wages (section 13 of the Employment Rights Act 1996)
  • whether the claimant's treatment was because of race
  • whether the alleged conduct had the purpose or effect of violating dignity or creating an intimidating environment
  • whether deductions were authorised by contract

Reference: 6004827/2024

4 Sept 2026
Mixed outcome

Other

Claims against individual respondents were dismissed because they were not the employer; the claim against the London Borough of Harrow remains ongoing.

Legal Issues (2)
  • Determination of employer status as a preliminary issue
  • jurisdiction over individual respondents

Reference: 3300016/2022

4 Sept 2026
Mixed outcome

Discrimination

The claimant succeeded on direct sex discrimination but the claim of direct race discrimination was dismissed.

Legal Issues (6)
  • Direct sex discrimination under section 13 Equality Act 2010
  • direct race discrimination under section 13 Equality Act 2010
  • comparator analysis
  • burden of proof (section 136 EqA)
  • whether treatment was because of sex where the young person's reaction was inseparable from the claimant's sex
  • material difference in circumstances between the claimant and a female comparator

Reference: 6023226/2024

3 Sept 2026
Claim dismissed

Constructive Dismissal, Discrimination and Harassment

All claims of race discrimination, harassment and discriminatory constructive dismissal were dismissed on the merits after a full hearing.

Legal Issues (4)
  • Direct race discrimination under s.13 Equality Act 2010
  • harassment related to race under s.26 Equality Act 2010
  • constructive dismissal for a discriminatory reason
  • whether conduct amounted to a repudiatory breach of the implied term of trust and confidence

Reference: 3306924/2024

2 Sept 2026
Claim struck out

Other

The claimant failed to attend the preliminary hearing and provided no explanation or engagement, leading to dismissal of all claims.

Legal Issues (3)
  • Strike out for non-attendance (Rule 47)
  • failure to engage
  • proportionality of tribunal resources

Reference: 6037529/2025

2 Sept 2026
Dismissed on jurisdiction

Other

The claim was dismissed because it was presented out of time and the Tribunal found it was reasonably practicable for the Claimant to have submitted it in time.

Legal Issues (1)
  • Whether the claim was presented within the statutory time limit and whether it was reasonably practicable for the Claimant to have presented it in time

Reference: 1601501/2026

2 Sept 2026
Claim dismissed

Discrimination

The Tribunal found that the claim for direct age discrimination was not well-founded and dismissed it.

Legal Issues (3)
  • Direct age discrimination under the Equality Act 2010
  • burden of proof
  • whether the claimant was treated less favourably because of age

Reference: 6006418/2024

31 Aug 2026
Claim dismissed

Discrimination and Harassment

All claims of direct race discrimination, harassment related to race, and victimisation were dismissed on the merits after a full hearing.

Legal Issues (8)
  • Direct race discrimination (s.13 EqA 2010)
  • harassment related to race (s.26 EqA 2010)
  • victimisation (s.27 EqA 2010)
  • burden of proof (s.136 EqA 2010)
  • time limits (s.123 EqA 2010)
  • continuing act
  • comparators
  • credibility assessment

Reference: 3308186/2023

28 Aug 2026
Claim dismissed

Unfair Dismissal

The Tribunal found the dismissal was fair because the respondent had a reasonable belief in the misconduct, conducted a reasonable investigation, and the decision to dismiss was within the range of reasonable responses.

Legal Issues (4)
  • Whether the respondent had a genuine belief in misconduct on reasonable grounds after a reasonable investigation (British Home Stores v Burchell)
  • whether the decision to dismiss fell within the band of reasonable responses (Foley v Post Office)
  • whether the disciplinary manager's prior minor involvement rendered the process unfair (Lamb v Teva UK Ltd)
  • whether the use of telematics data as evidence was lawful and reasonable

Reference: 8000298/2026

27 Aug 2026
Claim struck out

Unfair Dismissal and Discrimination

The unfair dismissal claim was struck out because the claimant had less than two years' service, and the discrimination claims were allowed to proceed after time limit extension.

Legal Issues (2)
  • Qualifying service for unfair dismissal (s.108 ERA 1996)
  • time limits for discrimination claims (s.15 and s.20/21 Equality Act 2010) and just and equitable extension

Reference: 2300124/2025

27 Aug 2026
Mixed outcome

Discrimination and Harassment

The claimant succeeded on one victimisation claim but failed on other victimisation allegations and all sexual harassment claims, with remedy for the successful claim still to be determined.

Legal Issues (4)
  • Time limit extension
  • victimisation under section 27 of the Equality Act 2010
  • sexual harassment under section 26 of the Equality Act 2010
  • ACAS Code compliance

Reference: 1402789/2024

26 Aug 2026
Mixed outcome

Discrimination

The Claimant succeeded in having the physical disability of ACL damage recorded by consent, but claims based on the alleged mental disability of stress/anxiety/depression were dismissed for lack of disability while claims based on physical impairments remain outstanding.

Legal Issues (2)
  • Whether the Claimant was disabled within the meaning of section 6 Equality Act 2010 in respect of a mental impairment
  • what consequences that finding had for the reasonable adjustments and discrimination arising from disability claims

Reference: 6022434/2025

21 Aug 2026
Claim struck out

Unfair Dismissal and Discrimination

The claim was dismissed in its entirety because the claimant failed to attend the preliminary hearing and did not provide sufficient evidence to justify a postponement or to show that the claims should be allowed to proceed out of time.

Legal Issues (4)
  • Time limits for bringing claims
  • application for postponement
  • failure to attend
  • dismissal for non-attendance under Rule 47

Reference: 1600983/2026

21 Aug 2026
Claim dismissed

Unfair Dismissal

The Tribunal found the respondent had a genuine belief in the claimant's misconduct, reasonable grounds based on multiple witness accounts, a reasonable investigation despite some delay, and that dismissal was within the range of reasonable responses.

Legal Issues (3)
  • Whether the respondent had a genuine belief in misconduct
  • reasonable grounds for that belief
  • carried out a reasonable investigation (Burchell test). Whether dismissal was within the range of reasonable responses. Whether the claimant was treated inconsistently compared to other employees

Reference: 6018279/2025

20 Aug 2026
Claim dismissed

Discrimination and Whistleblowing

All complaints were found not well-founded and dismissed.

Legal Issues (3)
  • Direct race discrimination
  • victimisation
  • protected disclosure detriment

Reference: 6021283/2024

19 Aug 2026
Outcome unclear

Discrimination and Whistleblowing

The Tribunal found that the claimant has a disability and made a protected disclosure, but these are preliminary determinations only; the substantive claims have not been finally decided.

Legal Issues (3)
  • Definition of disability under section 6(1) Equality Act 2010 – substantial adverse effect on normal day-to-day activities
  • definition of qualifying disclosure under section 43B Employment Rights Act 1996 – disclosure of information
  • public interest and reasonable belief

Reference: 8001815/2025

19 Aug 2026
Claim dismissed

Discrimination and Harassment

All active Equality Act claims failed because the claimant was not placed at a substantial disadvantage by the absence-reporting PCP, the call did not amount to harassment, and the record of discussion was not unfavourable, not disability-related and was justified.

Legal Issues (3)
  • Whether the reasonable adjustments duty was engaged by the personal telephone reporting PCP
  • whether the 5 June call amounted to unwanted conduct related to disability with a prohibited purpose or effect
  • whether the record of discussion on 14 October 2025 was unfavourable treatment because of something arising from disability and whether it was proportionate

Reference: 8002436/2025

17 Aug 2026
Claim dismissed

Constructive Dismissal and Whistleblowing

All claims were dismissed because the whistleblowing detriment claim was time-barred and the constructive unfair dismissal claim failed as the claimant did not resign in response to a breach and had affirmed the contract.

Legal Issues (4)
  • Whether the claimant's emails qualified as protected disclosures
  • whether the move to Hermiston Hall was a detriment on grounds of protected disclosure
  • whether the constructive dismissal claim met the Western Excavating v Sharp test
  • whether the whistleblowing claim was time-barred

Reference: 8001857/2025

17 Aug 2026
Claim dismissed

Discrimination, Unpaid Wages and Breach of Contract

All claims were dismissed because the claimant was not an employee or worker for the purposes of the relevant protective legislation, the reasonable adjustments claim was out of time, and the wage claim failed on the facts as she was paid the agreed rate.

Legal Issues (4)
  • Employment status (employee/worker/contract worker)
  • time limits for discrimination claims under s.123 Equality Act 2010
  • whether failure to make reasonable adjustments is a continuing act
  • validity of unauthorised deductions claim where agreed rate was paid

Reference: 6024279/2025

17 Aug 2026
Dismissed on jurisdiction

Discrimination

The claimant was not disabled during the relevant period, so her claims for failure to make reasonable adjustments were dismissed.

Legal Issues (2)
  • Definition of disability under Equality Act 2010
  • whether the claimant's conditions had a substantial and long-term adverse effect

Reference: 3305830/2023

17 Aug 2026
Claim dismissed

Unfair Dismissal, Discrimination and Whistleblowing

All claims were dismissed as out of time, lacking jurisdiction, or having no reasonable prospects of success.

Legal Issues (6)
  • Time limits for unfair dismissal
  • whistleblowing and discrimination claims
  • qualifying service for ordinary unfair dismissal
  • reasonable practicability test for extension of time
  • no reasonable prospects of success for whistleblowing claim due to chronology
  • failure to properly plead discrimination claim

Reference: 6021196/2024

14 Aug 2026
Claim dismissed

Discrimination

All claims were dismissed: the reasonable adjustment claim was time-barred despite a breach being found, and the discrimination arising from disability claim was dismissed on the merits as proportionate.

Legal Issues (5)
  • Reasonable adjustments (s.20-21 Equality Act 2010)
  • discrimination arising from disability (s.15 Equality Act 2010)
  • time limits (s.123 Equality Act 2010)
  • just and equitable extension of time
  • proportionality of absence management procedure

Reference: 2406721/2024

13 Aug 2026
Claimant won£24,609.46 awarded

Unfair Dismissal

The tribunal found that the claimant was constructively and unfairly dismissed and awarded compensation.

Legal Issues (2)
  • Constructive dismissal
  • unfair dismissal

Reference: 6013439/2025

13 Aug 2026
Claim dismissed

Discrimination and Other

Both complaints of indirect disability discrimination and failure to make reasonable adjustments were dismissed as not well-founded.

Legal Issues (2)
  • Indirect disability discrimination under the Equality Act 2010
  • failure to make reasonable adjustments under the Equality Act 2010

Reference: 6012971/2024

12 Aug 2026
Claim dismissed

Whistleblowing

All claims were dismissed: claims against the third and fourth respondents on withdrawal, and claims against the first and second respondents failed on the merits because the tribunal found no detriment on the ground of protected disclosures.

Legal Issues (3)
  • Whether the claimant was a worker under section 43K of the Employment Rights Act 1996
  • whether she made protected disclosures under section 43B
  • whether she was subjected to a detriment on the ground of those disclosures

Reference: 3308913/2023

7 Aug 2026
Claim dismissed

Other

The claimants failed to show their work as Business Advisers was like work to that of Account Managers – the roles were materially different in content, responsibility and time allocation.

Legal Issues (5)
  • Equal pay – like work comparison under Equality Act 2010 sections 64(1)(a) and 65(1)(a)
  • definition of 'work' in equal pay cases
  • significance of differences in content and time spent
  • limitation periods under section 132
  • TUPE-transfer employment continuity

Reference: 1304212/2024

5 Aug 2026
Claim struck out

Discrimination, Unpaid Wages and Whistleblowing

The claime was dismissed and struck out because the claimant failed to attend hearings, failed to comply with tribunal orders, and conducted the proceedings unreasonably, rendering a fair trial impossible.

Legal Issues (5)
  • Failure to attend hearing
  • non-compliance with tribunal orders
  • unreasonable conduct
  • strike out under rules 38(1)(b)/(c) and 47 of the Employment Tribunal Procedure Rules 2024
  • discretionary dismissal for lack of fair trial possible

Reference: 6021733/2025

5 Aug 2026
Mixed outcome

Discrimination and Harassment

The claimant succeeded on limited allegations of harassment and victimisation but failed on the majority of her race discrimination claims.

Legal Issues (8)
  • Race discrimination
  • harassment related to race
  • victimisation
  • protected acts
  • vicarious liability
  • time limits for amendments
  • extension of time
  • grievance process fairness

Reference: 6015012/2024

4 Aug 2026
Claim struck out

Discrimination

The first claimant's indirect discrimination claim was struck out as having no reasonable prospects of success, and her application to add a victimisation claim was refused.

Legal Issues (4)
  • Application to amend under Rule 30 and Selkent principles
  • definition of protected act under s.27 Equality Act 2010
  • strike out for no reasonable prospects
  • balance of hardship and prejudice

Reference: 3300929/2024

4 Aug 2026
Dismissed on jurisdiction

Other

The interim relief application was presented out of time, and the claimant failed to show it was not reasonably practicable to present it earlier, so the rejection was confirmed.

Legal Issues (4)
  • Whether the interim relief application was presented in time
  • application of s.128(2) ERA 1996
  • meaning of 'presented' (Hammond v Haigh Castle)
  • strict time limits and reasonable practicability (Fishley; Miller v Community Links)

Reference: 6028045/2026

4 Aug 2026
Claim struck out

Discrimination

The Claimant failed to prove that her impairments of ILO, DBPD, asthma, and GORD had a substantial and long-term adverse effect on normal day-to-day activities.

Legal Issues (6)
  • Definition of disability under s.6 Equality Act 2010
  • substantial adverse effect
  • long-term effect
  • credibility of claimant's evidence
  • weight of medical records
  • burden of proof

Reference: 6029870/2025

3 Aug 2026
Claim dismissed

Unfair Dismissal and Whistleblowing

All claims were dismissed as not well-founded.

Legal Issues (3)
  • Protected disclosure detriment
  • automatic unfair dismissal
  • ordinary unfair dismissal

Reference: 2600460/2024

3 Aug 2026
Claim dismissed

Unfair Dismissal and Breach of Contract

The Tribunal found the Respondent's investigation and decision to dismiss for gross misconduct were within the range of reasonable responses, and the Claimant failed to provide credible evidence to account for the missing work hours.

Legal Issues (3)
  • Whether the employer had a genuine belief in misconduct on reasonable grounds
  • whether the investigation and decision to dismiss were within the range of reasonable responses
  • whether the conduct amounted to gross misconduct justifying summary dismissal without notice

Reference: 6038116/2025