Vento Guidelines – Annual Update 2023

Employment law in the UK is constantly evolving, and it is important for both employees and employers to stay up to date with any changes or updates to the regulations.

One area that has seen recent changes is the Vento guidelines, which relate to the amount of compensation that can be awarded in discrimination and harassment cases.

The Vento guidelines were established in 2002 in the case of Vento v Chief Constable of West Yorkshire Police. They provide a framework for employment tribunals to determine the amount of compensation that should be awarded to an employee who has suffered discrimination or harassment in the workplace. The guidelines are regularly updated to reflect changes in the economy and society.

In March 2023, the Presidents of the Employment Tribunals in England and Wales and Scotland released an updated version of the Vento guidelines. The updated guidelines increased the amount of compensation that can be awarded in discrimination and harassment cases.

The increases are based on the September 2022 retail price index (RPI), which increased by 12.6% since the previous year. The new figures are therefore the highest increases for several years.

Under the new guidelines, the compensation that can be awarded in cases of less serious discrimination or harassment is as follows:

• Lower band: £1,100 to £11,200 (for isolated incidents or less serious cases)
• Middle band: £11,200 to £33,700 (for cases that are more serious but not the most serious)
• Upper band: £33,700 to £56,200 (for the most serious cases)

In cases of the most serious discrimination or harassment, the compensation can be higher than the upper band, depending on the circumstances of the case.

The updated Vento guidelines also clarify that injury to feelings awards should be uplifted by 1.4% to reflect inflation since the previous update in 2022. This means that the minimum amount of compensation that can be awarded for injury to feelings in discrimination or harassment cases is now £1,100 (compared to £900 in 2022).

It is important to note that these guidelines are not set in stone, and the compensation awarded in any particular case will depend on the individual circumstances of that case. The updated Vento guidelines are simply a starting point for tribunals to consider when deciding how much compensation should be awarded.

Employers should take note of these changes and ensure that their policies and practices are up-to-date and comply with UK employment law. Employees who believe they have been subjected to discrimination or harassment should seek legal advice and consider filing a claim with an employment tribunal.

In conclusion, the updated Vento guidelines provide clearer guidance for employment tribunals in determining the amount of compensation that should be awarded in discrimination and harassment cases.

These guidelines are an important tool for protecting employees and ensuring that employers are held accountable for any discrimination or harassment that occurs in the workplace.

Further reading

Employment Law and HR package – Oakwood Solicitors

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