Commentary on Sections Employment tribunals: Postponements Section 151: Employment tribunal procedure regulations: postponements
835.This section amends sections 7 (employment tribunal procedure regulations), 13 (costs and expenses) and 13A (payments in respect of preparation time) of the Employment Tribunals Act 1996 (‘the 1996 Act’) to insert powers to make rules on the determination of applications for postponement, and on the possible cost implications of postponements being granted.
836.Subsection (2) inserts a new provision into section 7 of the 1996 Act to expressly allow Employment Tribunal procedure regulations to include rules limiting the number of postponements that can be granted to a party on their application and provide for the procedure regulations to set out in more detail how the new rule would apply. It further explains that the provision also applies to adjournments.
837.Subsection (3) amends section 13 of the 1996 Act so that Employment Tribunal procedure regulations on costs have to include provisions obliging an Employment Tribunal to consider making a cost order against the successful applicant for a late postponement of an Employment Tribunal hearing.
838.Subsection (4) inserts a similar provision into section 13A of the 1996 Act in respect of time preparation orders.