Deal or no deal

Stats suggest that, if you lodge a claim against the BBC at an Employment Tribunal for unfair dismissal and/or discrimination, there's a 1 in 3 chance that Auntie will settle. And 1 in 3 of claimants withdraw their cases before a full hearing, presumably working out they've got little chance of success. Chances of taking to BBC all the way and winning ? Less than 1 in 50.  Here's the figures for the past three financial years, supplied in response to a Freedom of Information enquiry.

2012/13
8 settled before a Tribunal decision - total figure paid to settle: £281,970.
9 were withdrawn (2 claims brought by one claimant; this same claimant brought a third claim in 2013/14 which was also withdrawn – see below).
9 were struck out or dismissed.
No cases lost by the BBC

2013/2014
6 settled before a Tribunal decision – total figure paid to settle: £167,500.
7 were withdrawn (including a third claim brought by one claimant – see above).
5 were struck out or dismissed.
The BBC lost one case - a wild guess might suggest this was the dismissal of Chief Technology Officer John Linwood.  BBC legal costs amounted to £498,000; the damages paid out haven't been disclosed.

2014/15
5 settled before a Tribunal decision – total figure paid to settle: £57,750 (this included settlement of a second claim by one of these 5 claimants in the year 2015/16).
4 were withdrawn.
3 were struck out or dismissed.
No cases lost by the BBC

And here's the stuff the BBC wants us to say. “There are around 18000 people working at the BBC with many leaving and joining each year, and the number of claims is very small with most either dismissed, withdrawn or settled without admission of any liability. The vast majority of our employees tell us they feel proud to work for the BBC.”