The head of the Manx Industrial Relations Service has described 2020 as the ’most difficult’ time for both employers and employees.

In the first quarter of this year, the service received 2,741 inquiries, which during March related predominantly to uncertainty over the Covid-19 pandemic and the island’s response.

Industrial relations officer Julie Bradley’s annual report was delayed and ended up covering a longer period, as a result of the pandemic. Instead of looking back at just 2019, it also includes the first three months of this year.

’This has without any doubt been the most difficult, challenging and uncertain time for employers and employees and I know our small team had provided direct help and support by phone and via social media and that we will continue to do so with whatever lies ahead,’ Ms Bradley says in her report.

’I have a solid, experienced and dedicated team who I know can and will adapt. We will deliver the practical support, guidance and advice to employers and employees to navigate through what will be difficult times and to make sure that we do whatever we can to help the island deal with these challenges.’

At the start of the year, it had already been expected that 2020 would be a busy one for the MIRS, with many aspects of the Equality Act taking effect.

Last year saw a record number of inquiries and emails to MIRS, with 10,788. It was the third consecutive year in which the number was more than 10,000.

Of the 2019 figure, 5,484 inquiries were from employees and 5,053 from employers, with 264 from trade unions, representatives and advisers.

The most common inquiries related to termination and notice pay.

Although there were 309 inquiries relating to trade disputes during the 15-month period covered in the report, no days were lost to strike action.

complaints

In 2019 there was a decrease in the number of employment tribunal complaints, down to 83, from 107 in 2018.

However the figure of 83 amounted to 128 actual complaints, because a complaint to a tribunal can contain more than one grievance.

The two most common complaints were unlawful deductions from pay (48 complaints) and unfair dismissal (42).

During the first quarter of 2020, 17 complaints were received by the tribunal.

The service is also allowed to deal with a ’potential complaint’ as if a claim has been made to the tribunal, but to resolve it at an earlier stage.

Ms Bradley said this approach was favoured by many employers and employees as it avoided a public hearing.

In 2005, the service dealt with 59 ’potential complaints’ but by last year the number had risen to 639.

Ms Bradley said: ’I believe that this is a very valuable part of the work we do and clearly by resolving 639 cases this has undoubtedly saved time and money for employers, employees, and the taxpayers on the Isle of Man.’