UK remote work tribunal claims fall 13% -- first decline since pandemic

Employment tribunal claims related to remote and flexible working in the UK fell to 54 in 2025, down from 62 in 2024 — the first decline since the pandemic. The drop is significant but should be read in context: pre-pandemic, just 6 such cases were filed in 2019. Remote work disputes remain nearly nine times higher than pre-COVID levels.

Why this matters

The decline is attributed to three factors: rising unemployment (now 5.2%) shifting bargaining power back to employers, fewer vacancies reducing workers’ willingness to challenge refusals, and the 2023 Flexible Working Act resolving more disputes internally before they reach tribunal.

For remote workers in the UK, the picture is mixed. The new day-one employment rights that took effect this month theoretically strengthen your position. But in a softening labour market, the practical leverage to demand flexible arrangements is weakening. The Fair Work Agency launching with 550 inspectors may help enforce rights on paper — but enforcement and entitlement are different things when jobs are scarce.

For employers, the declining claim numbers should not be mistaken for declining demand. Workers want flexibility as much as ever — they’re just less willing to fight for it in a tighter market. Companies that offer genuine flexibility will have a recruitment advantage precisely when others are pulling back.