Employment Tribunals Over Remote Working in Great Britain Decline in 2025

The number of employment tribunals in Great Britain related to remote working decreased in 2025 for the first time since the Covid-19 pandemic. Analysis by HR consultants Hamilton Nash found 54 such cases decided across England, Scotland, and Wales, down 13% from 62 in 2024. This ended a six-year trend of increases, with cases rising tenfold from six in 2019.

Tribunals peaked at 62 in 2024 before the drop. More than 28% of working adults in Great Britain now work in a hybrid model, splitting time between office and other locations, according to the Office for National Statistics. Employers have increasingly required returns to the office, prompting workforce resistance in some instances.

Factors Behind the Decline Rising unemployment to 5.

2% in the final quarter of 2025 and falling job vacancies have shifted power toward employers. Employment lawyers and consultants attribute the tribunal decrease to workers avoiding disputes amid job market pressures. Some employees have changed jobs over return-to-office policies rather than pursue legal action.

The right to request flexible working from day one of employment, effective April 2024 under the amended Employment Relations Act, may have encouraged internal resolutions. Jim Moore, an employee relations expert at Hamilton Nash, described a post-pandemic period of turbulence where top talent left roles but noted a shift due to labor market conditions.

Employer Actions and Legal Precedents Large financial employers, including Goldman Sachs and JPMorgan Chase, have mandated five-day office attendance.

A 2024 tribunal rejected a senior manager's case against the Financial Conduct Authority for full-time remote work, potentially encouraging employers. Padma Tadi-Booth, a partner at Hill Dickinson, said the ruling may empower firms to enforce office returns for supervision or work quality. Some companies plan to raise attendance to three days a week or a set percentage of hours.

Tribunal backlogs exceeded 500,000 cases in 2025, with waits up to three years for hearings. Moore noted that tribunal cases represent only a fraction of workplace conflicts.

Broader Context The Covid-19 pandemic permanently altered office-based work.

While hybrid arrangements persist, employer policies have tightened. Future tribunal increases could occur if resistance grows to stricter mandates.