Employment tribunal process

On what grounds can you take your employer to a tribunal?

You can take your employer to a tribunal for various reasons, including unfair dismissal, discrimination, unpaid wages, or a breach of contract.

Before filing, you must usually complete 'Early Conciliation' via ACAS. This is a mandatory first step to see if a settlement can be reached.

Is it worth taking your employer to a tribunal? This depends on your potential payout and the strength of your evidence.

What is the average employment tribunal payout? (And your chances of winning)

The average employment tribunal payout varies greatly depending on the claim type. Unfair dismissal awards are often around £10,000–£15,000, while discrimination claims can be significantly higher as they are uncapped.

What are the chances of winning a tribunal? Success rates vary, but cases with strong documentation and clear legal grounds perform significantly better.

How much can you claim at a tribunal? You can claim for your actual financial loss and, in discrimination cases, injury to feelings awards.

Compensation Questions

What are the stages of an employment tribunal?

1. 01

   ET1 filed

   Your claim is submitted to the tribunal.

2. 02

   ET3 response

   The employer files their response.

3. 03

   Case management

   The tribunal issues orders and sets deadlines.

4. 04

   Disclosure

   Both sides exchange relevant documents.

5. 05

   Witness statements

   Each side prepares written evidence.

6. 06

   Final hearing

   The tribunal hears evidence and makes a decision.

What is the 3 month tribunal time limit?

• The employment tribunal time limits are strict; missing one can lead to your claim being dismissed immediately.
• The standard tribunal time frame is 3 months less 1 day from the act you are complaining about.
• While called a 'time limit', exceptions (like 'just and equitable' extensions) are very rare in the employment tribunal uk.
• Use our tribunal time limit calculator or employment tribunal out of time calculator to find the exact tribunal time period for your specific situation.
• A court time limit for breach of contract (6 years) is much longer, but the tribunal claim deadline remains the priority.

Out of time tribunal claims

If you are filing out of time employment tribunal claims, you must provide a very strong reason. Cases are rarely heard if submitted late.

For out of time court application or tribunal matters, the burden of proof is on you to show why the deadline was missed.

You might ask: 'how long after dismissal can you go to tribunal?' The answer is almost always within the 3-month limitation period for employment matters unless an exception is granted.

Hearing and Decisions

• The employment tribunal decisions are usually sent to both parties in the weeks after the hearing.
• Public records of employment tribunal judgments are searchable online in the official register.
• Remedies can include compensation and recommendations based on the employment tribunal cases findings.

Common questions