If an employee believes they have been treated unlawfully — for example unfairly dismissed, discriminated against or denied statutory rights — they may bring a claim to the Employment Tribunal.

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1. Time limit

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Employees have 3 months minus 1 day from the date of the incident to submit a claim.

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2. Mandatory ACAS Early Conciliation

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Before submitting a claim, the employee must complete ACAS Early Conciliation and obtain an ACAS certificate.

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This process pauses the limitation period.

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3. How long does a Tribunal case take?

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As of today:

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• typical cases take 12–24 months

• discrimination cases take even longer

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Delays are caused by high caseloads and limited Tribunal resources.

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4. Risks for employers

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Tribunal claims can lead to:

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• compensation (uncapped in discrimination cases)

• legal costs

• reinstatement orders

• disclosure of internal documents and emails

• reputational damage

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5. Why employers must act quickly

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Once notified by ACAS or served with an ET1, employers must:

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• preserve evidence

• analyse the claim

• prepare the ET3 response

• assess risk and defence strategy

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Delays weaken your position.

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6. How I help employers

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• representing employers in ACAS Early Conciliation

• preparing ET3 responses and evidence bundles

• advising on defence strategy

• negotiating settlements

• representing employers at Tribunal hearings