The “full impact” of changes which saw the maximum compensation award for discrimination claims rise to £30,000 is only just beginning to be felt, according to a new report – which warned that discrimination complaints are “likely to continue rising”.
The latest annual review by the Jersey Advisory and Conciliation Service (JACS) reveals that half of all claims now include allegations of discrimination, with disability cases alone accounting for 63% of such complaints.
JACS chair Hilary Griffin highlighted the “substantial rise” in the maximum compensation award for discrimination, which increased from £10,000 to £30,000 last year.
“In 2025, new legislation came into effect which significantly increased tribunal risk for employers who fail to comply with their legal obligations,” she said.
“Although the full impact of these changes is only beginning to filter through to the tribunal, discrimination complaints are likely to continue rising.
“Employers must now take this risk seriously and ensure that their workforces receive appropriate training to mitigate the risk of costly tribunal awards.”
She noted that disability discrimination remains “the most complex and challenging area for employers”.
Ms Griffin explained: “Determining what constitutes a ‘reasonable adjustment’ is often contentious, particularly in cases involving hidden disabilities.
“Too often, managers are reluctant to engage in these difficult conversations, and this can exacerbate already sensitive situations.”
She also warned that JACS is “sometimes wrongly perceived as a threat” by employers.
While the number of tribunal referrals fell from 250 in 2024 to 203 last year, cases themselves are becoming more complicated – with multiple claims bundled together and requiring more time and resources to resolve.
At the same time, JACS itself is operating under tight financial constraints, relying heavily on government funding while attempting to “maximise the impact of available resources”.
The service handled hundreds of disputes – including 207 pre-claim settlement requests and 96 resolved claims – while delivering conciliation meetings and training sessions aimed at preventing cases from escalating.
Financially, its work is estimated to have saved the tribunal system more than £424,000 in 2025, with the broader social value put at approximately £7.7 million.
The report also warned that looming political and legal changes could place further strain on an already stretched service.
It notes that the impact of the upcoming election “may mean changes for JACS” , but the impact of this is “unknown, as it will be dependent on those elected”.
The report added that “changes in the pipeline to legislation and the new law of whistleblowing” are “likely to have some impact on JACS”, which may affect existing services and the ability to deliver these within the current budget.