Considering a tribunal case/Time Limits

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Time limits

1. Standard Time Limit

• Deadline: 3 months minus 1 day
• Starts from:
  • The date of the discriminatory act (e.g. dismissal, failure to make reasonable adjustments, harassment), or
  • The last act in a series of discriminatory acts.

Example:

If discrimination occurred on 1 March, the deadline to start the process would usually be 31 May.

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⏳ Early Conciliation Requirement (ACAS)

Before you can bring a tribunal claim, you must notify ACAS and go through Early Conciliation.

• This pauses the tribunal time limit (called "stopping the clock").
• When conciliation ends, ACAS gives you an Early Conciliation Certificate.
• You then have at least 1 month to submit your claim (depending on how long the pause lasted).

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🔄 Extension of Time Limits

Tribunals can extend the time limit only in exceptional cases, normally it's very rare for late claims to be accepted. The test is usually whether it was "just and equitable" to extend the time delays related to disability however can and often are reasons why the time limit can be extended.

So it’s crucial to:

• Act quickly
• Document events and dates
• Start Early Conciliation in time

have 3 months minus one day present your case to the tribunal using the ET one form

found at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/make-a-claim-to-an-employment-tribunal-form-et1