Flexible working | WFH-related employment tribunals fall for first time since pandemic amid return-to-office push

Employment tribunal cases relating to remote working were almost 13% lower in 2025 than the year before as the jobs market tightened.

Analysis of court records by HR consultants Hamilton Nash reveals that tribunal cases fell for the first time in six years, bringing to an end a streak that has seen complaints reaching a hearing rocket ten-fold since their pre-Covid level.

In 2019, the year before the pandemic, there were just six cases relating to remote working that reached an employment tribunal. Last year, this hit more than 62 cases.

Why have remote working legal cases decreased?

Experts say there may be a few factors behind the surprising decrease. The right to request flexible working from day one came into force in April 2024 thanks to the Employment Relations Act. These stronger statutory rights may mean that employees have been more likely to resolve disputes through internal processes, rather than resorting to tribunals.