By NEIL SEARS

Published: 00:20 GMT, 30 December 2025 | Updated: 00:25 GMT, 30 December 2025

A youth worker has brought at least 54 claims to employment tribunals in a bid to 'get rich fast'.

The mostly hopeless cases brought by Joseph Johnson, 45, cost employers a fortune to defend even if they were thrown out.

And the Conservative Party, concerned by his example, has warned that the new Employment Rights Act will make such cases more common.

Thanks to the law, which was voted in two weeks ago, employees will be able to claim unfair dismissal after just six months' work, rather than two years, with unlimited damages now available.

Chancers may be inspired by Mr Johnson's astonishing tally of cases.

His claims, typically for discrimination, racial and sexual, have been attacked by a series of employment judges, yet there is nothing to stop him from launching more.

He has not succeeded in any discrimination claims but has had one ruling in his favour - for unlawful deduction from wages, earning him £5,000.

As he represents himself, his costs are low.

Joseph Johnson, 45, has brought at least 54 claims to employment tribunals in a bid to 'get rich fast'

He has not succeeded in any discrimination claims but has had one ruling in his favour - for unlawful deduction from wages, earning him £5,000

When asked for cash deposits for cases to prove his seriousness, he typically drops his claims.

And his victims, including charities, a primary school, and councils, then have no hope of recouping their costs from him.

The Daily Mail has tracked Mr Johnson's record in the tribunal system after he was criticised for his most recent known claim, brought against the London Borough of Harrow and an agency worker, Caroline Rowlands.

Employment Judge Tanveer Rakhim threw the claim out in August for having no facts to back it up, saying Mr Johnson had been 'targeting legal representatives simply doing their job', and making claims to 'cause disruption'. 

The judge told the Watford tribunal that Mr Johnson was nevertheless clearly a 'sophisticated litigant'.

Referring to his previous cases, Judge Rakhim added: 'This litigation is a continuation of that pattern, targeting legal representatives and an agency worker in a personal and vexatious manner... This is now the 54th claim.'

Last year, Employment Judge Laura Howden-Evans threw out his claims against a youth club, saying: 'Mr Johnson views employment tribunal proceedings as a means to get rich fast, rather than this being somebody seeking compensation for genuine harm caused by acts of discrimination.'

Mr Johnson, of Wanstead, east London, did not respond to requests for comment.