20. Hearing to be informal, etc.

Proceedings before a tribunal are to be conducted in an informal manner.

A tribunal, when dealing with any claim, is to adopt a judge‑led approach, that is to say, the tribunal —

In adopting a judge‑led approach, a tribunal may, at any time, on its own initiative or on the application of any party to the proceedings before the tribunal, direct any party or parties to those proceedings to appear before the tribunal, for the tribunal to make such order or give such direction as the tribunal thinks fit, for the just, expeditious and economical disposal of the claim.

A tribunal may, on its own initiative or at the request of any party, summon any person to do either or both of the following:

A tribunal may inquire into any matter which the tribunal considers relevant to a claim, whether or not the matter is raised by a party to the claim.

When deciding any claim for employment assistance payment, or calculating the amount of an employment assistance payment, a tribunal may take into account the tripartite guidelines on re‑employment.

When deciding any claim involving a wrongful dismissal dispute, a tribunal —

To avoid doubt, if any party to any proceedings before a tribunal, without reasonable excuse, fails to attend those proceedings, a tribunal may hear the claim and make its decision in the absence of that party, even if the interests of that party may be prejudicially affected by the decision of the tribunal.