An employment tribunal is the independent body that decides UK workplace disputes such as unfair dismissal, discrimination, breach of contract and unpaid wages. You usually have 6 months to claim if the problem happened on or after 1 October 2026, or 3 months if it happened before. You must notify Acas first, and there's no fee to make a claim.
That time limit is the change to know. GOV.UK now shows the 6-month rule for problems from 1 October 2026, while some guidance still quotes the old 'three months minus one day', which only applies to problems before that date. If you're unsure which applies, act as if the shorter limit does.
What you can claim for
- Unfair dismissal.
- Discrimination at work.
- Breach of contract.
- Unauthorised deductions from your pay.
- Detriment or dismissal for whistleblowing.
You can claim against an employer, a potential employer or a trade union. The tribunal hears from you, the 'claimant', and the person or organisation you're claiming against, the 'respondent', before deciding. Northern Ireland has its own system.
When the clock starts
| Type of claim | The time limit starts from |
|---|---|
| Unfair dismissal | The date your employment ended |
| Discrimination | The date of the most recent incident in your claim |
| Unauthorised deductions from pay | The date you weren't paid correctly |
| Interim relief (some dismissals, such as for whistleblowing or union activity) | You must claim within 7 days of being dismissed |
Step 1: Acas early conciliation
Before you can make most claims, you must tell Acas you're planning to. Acas then offers free early conciliation: a conciliator talks to both sides to see whether you can settle without a hearing. Three facts from Acas and GOV.UK matter here:
- The tribunal time limit is put on hold while Acas helps you try to resolve the dispute.
- Acas says early conciliation can last up to 12 weeks.
- When conciliation ends, or if you or the employer decline it, Acas sends an early conciliation certificate, and GOV.UK says you'll have at least one month left to make your claim from receiving it.
Conciliators are impartial. They can explain the law and how tribunals have treated similar cases, but they can't represent you, tell you whether to settle or say how strong your case is. Our guide to Acas early conciliation covers the process in more detail.
Step 2: making the claim
You'll need the names and addresses of everyone claiming and everyone you're claiming against, which GOV.UK says you can find in your offer letter, contract or payslips, plus your early conciliation certificate numbers. You can claim online or by post, for yourself, for a group treated the same way, or as someone's representative. If you need reasonable adjustments because of a disability or health condition, tell the tribunal when you claim or at any point after.
What it costs
There's no fee to make a claim. You may still face other costs, such as witness expenses, and the tribunal can order you to pay the respondent's costs if it decides you've acted unreasonably. Your trade union may pay for a solicitor, and free advice is available from Citizens Advice, Law Centres and similar services.
If you win
The tribunal can order the other side to pay compensation and your witness expenses, take steps to reduce the effects of discrimination, or give you your job back where appropriate. Compensation depends on the type of case, since some types have limits, on what you've lost, and on your age, length of service and salary.
The sourced insight people rarely know until they need it: getting paid isn't automatic. The respondent has 42 days to appeal. After that, you can ask the Fair Work Agency to send a warning notice, and if the respondent doesn't respond within 28 days it may have to pay a fine. As of October 2026, GOV.UK says the High Court Fast Track enforcement route costs £71 and a County Court bailiff warrant costs £83, both added to the debt the respondent owes you.
If you lose
You can ask the tribunal to reconsider its decision by writing within 14 days of the written decision being sent to you, with good reasons such as a mistake in how it reached the decision, not being told about the hearing, or new evidence. If you think the tribunal made a legal mistake, you can appeal to the Employment Appeal Tribunal.
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For employers
If a claim's coming, Acas usually contacts you first through early conciliation. Engaging with it's often the cheapest way out, and a sensible offer at that stage costs far less than a hearing. Keep the documents you'd need anyway: contracts, the grievance procedure you followed, meeting notes and pay records.
The verdict
The tribunal system is free to use and designed for people without lawyers, but it's unforgiving on deadlines. Note the date the problem happened, contact Acas well inside the limit, and keep every document. If the dispute is about being pushed out, our guide to constructive dismissal explains what you'd need to show.
Frequently asked questions
How long do I get to make an employment tribunal claim?
Usually 6 months if the problem happened on or after 1 October 2026, or 3 months if it happened before. The clock pauses while Acas early conciliation is under way.
Must I contact Acas before an employment tribunal?
For most claims, yes. You must notify Acas and get an early conciliation certificate before you can make a claim, with a few exceptions such as interim relief applications.
Does it cost anything to go to an employment tribunal?
There's no fee to make a claim. You may have other costs, such as witness expenses, and you can be ordered to pay the other side's costs if you've acted unreasonably.
Can I make a tribunal claim while I'm still employed?
Yes. Many claims, such as discrimination or unauthorised deductions from pay, can be brought while you're still in the job, and the time limit runs from the incident or the underpayment rather than from when you leave. Raising a grievance first is usually sensible, but it doesn't pause the tribunal clock.
What happens if my employer doesn't pay a tribunal award?
After the 42-day appeal window, you can ask the Fair Work Agency to send a warning notice, or use court enforcement such as the High Court Fast Track scheme or a County Court bailiff.
