Am I entitled to redundancy pay?

You are entitled to statutory redundancy pay if you have worked for your employer for at least 2 continuous years. The amount depends on your age, length of service and weekly pay, capped at £751 per week.

What is unfair dismissal?

Unfair dismissal occurs when your employer dismisses you without a fair reason or without following a fair procedure. You need 2 years of service to claim, reducing to 6 months from January 2027.

When is statutory sick pay paid?

Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) is now paid from Day 1 of illness following the Employment Rights Act 2025. The current rate is £123.25 per week for up to 28 weeks.

⚖ Important — Please Read Before Continuing

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1. This is guidance — and only ever guidance

Everything produced by ukworkrights.co.uk is general guidance. It is not legal advice. It is not a substitute for advice from a qualified solicitor. Never treat it as the final word — use it as a starting point, then check and take responsibility for any action you take.

2. AI can make mistakes

The guidance is generated by artificial intelligence. AI can and does make mistakes — wrong dates, wrong figures, wrong legal references, missed nuances. Read everything carefully. If the matter is serious, get it checked by ACAS, Citizens Advice, or a qualified solicitor before acting on it.

3. Verified figures and guidance sources

Statutory figures (such as rates for minimum wage, SSP, redundancy, pension contributions, council tax bands, flight compensation amounts, and benefit rates) are verified against GOV.UK, ACAS, Citizens Advice, and relevant regulatory bodies. Laws and rates change regularly. Always verify important figures at gov.uk before making decisions or taking action.

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6. Useful Official Resources

ACAS — Free employment advice: 0300 123 1100 — acas.org.uk
Citizens Advice — Free legal guidance: 0800 144 8848 — citizensadvice.org.uk
GOV.UK — Official UK government guidance: gov.uk
ICO — Data protection queries: 0303 123 1113 — ico.org.uk
Financial Ombudsman — Financial disputes: 0800 023 4567 — financial-ombudsman.org.uk
Energy Ombudsman — Energy disputes: ombudsman-services.org/energy
NHS — Healthcare guidance: nhs.uk
Veterans UK: 0808 1914 218
Benefits helpline: 0800 169 0310

For personal injury claims, immigration advice, criminal matters, or complex legal situations — always consult a regulated solicitor. Find one at solicitors.lawsociety.org.uk or gov.uk/find-a-solicitor.

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⚖ Employment Tribunals Guide

Employment Tribunals: How to Make a Claim in 2026

Think you've been treated unlawfully at work? This guide walks you through the employment tribunal process from start to finish — ACAS conciliation, the ET1 form, hearings, and what to expect.

✅ Last verified: July 2026📚 Sources: GOV.UK, ACAS🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 England, Wales & Scotland

⚖ Know Your Rights at a Glance

No fees for individuals bringing employment tribunal claims in England, Wales and Scotland.
ACAS early conciliation is mandatory before most tribunal claims. It's free and can pause your time limit for up to 12 weeks.
Time limit: 3 months less one day from the act complained of (changing to 6 months from 1 October 2026).
ET1 form: Submit online at employment tribunal — once ACAS issues a certificate, you have at least 1 month to file.
You can represent yourself — many claimants do. Trade unions and free legal advice services can help.
Cost orders are rare — losing a claim does not usually mean you pay your employer's legal fees.

⏰ Don't miss the time limit — it is almost never extended

The 3-month less one day deadline (6 months from October 2026) runs from the date of dismissal, detriment, or the last act in a series. Missing it almost always ends your claim — the tribunal has very limited discretion to extend. Contact ACAS immediately if your deadline is approaching.

🆕 Time limits doubling to 6 months from 1 October 2026

The Employment Rights Act 2025 will extend most employment tribunal time limits from 3 months less one day to 6 months, from 1 October 2026. ACAS conciliation periods will be extended accordingly. Check with ACAS for your exact deadline.

Step 1: ACAS early conciliation

Before you can submit most employment tribunal claims, you must notify ACAS to start early conciliation. This is free, confidential, and usually takes up to 6 weeks (extendable to 12 weeks from December 2025 if both parties agree).

ACAS will contact your employer and try to reach a settlement. If conciliation succeeds, you get an agreed outcome without a tribunal hearing. If it fails (or your employer doesn't engage), ACAS issues a certificate — and your tribunal clock resumes with at least 1 month remaining.

Notifying ACAS is straightforward — do it online at acas.org.uk or call 0300 123 1100.

What claims can go to tribunal?

Employment tribunals hear a wide range of claims including:

Unfair dismissal
Wrongful dismissal (breach of contract)
Redundancy pay disputes
Unlawful deduction from wages
Discrimination (all 9 protected characteristics)
Whistleblowing detriment or dismissal
Maternity/paternity/family leave rights
Working time breaches
Tips allocation breaches
Failure to provide written particulars

The ET1 form

The ET1 is the claim form you submit online at employment tribunal (employment-tribunals.service.gov.uk). It must set out:

Your details and your employer's details
The ACAS certificate number
The type of claim you're making
The facts of your case in your own words
What you are asking the tribunal to award

There is no fee. Once submitted, the tribunal sends a copy to your employer (the respondent), who must submit an ET3 response within 28 days.

What happens at a hearing?

Most claims go through several stages before a final hearing:

Preliminary hearing: To clarify the issues and set a timetable
Disclosure: Both parties exchange relevant documents
Witness statements: Written statements from you and any witnesses
Final hearing: Evidence is given and tested. You (or your representative) present your case. The employer does the same. The tribunal decides.

Final hearings for simple claims may last 1 day. Complex claims (discrimination, multiple issues) may take several days. You will receive the decision in writing, usually within weeks of the hearing.

Note the date of the act immediately

Your time limit runs from this date. Write it down and count the days carefully.

Contact ACAS first — do not submit an ET1 directly

You must notify ACAS before filing. Do this as soon as possible to leave time for conciliation.

Submit the ET1 after the ACAS certificate

Once you have your ACAS certificate, submit the ET1 online. You have at least 1 month from the certificate to file.

Gather all your evidence now

Payslips, contract, emails, letters, meeting notes, witness details. Organise by date. The tribunal will want to see documents.

Consider whether you need representation

You can self-represent. Free advice is available from Citizens Advice, your trade union, and Employment Tribunal representation charities. Some solicitors offer free initial consultations.

Engage with the process once started

Respond to all tribunal communications promptly. Missing deadlines in tribunal proceedings can result in your claim being struck out.

⚖ Check Your Employment Rights Before You Claim

Describe your situation and get guidance on whether you have a tribunal claim and what it might be worth.

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Frequently asked questions

Does it cost anything to go to tribunal?

No — there are no fees for individuals bringing claims at an employment tribunal in England, Wales and Scotland.

Will I have to pay my employer's costs if I lose?

Rarely. Cost orders are only made where a party has acted unreasonably or a claim had no reasonable prospect of success. Simply losing your claim does not usually mean you pay the other side's costs.

Can I settle before the hearing?

Yes — many claims settle before a final hearing, through ACAS conciliation or a COT3 agreement. Settlements can be arranged at any stage of the process.

How long does a tribunal claim take?

Simple claims can resolve in a few months through conciliation. Contested claims going to a final hearing typically take 9–18 months in the current system, though this varies by region and complexity.

What is a COT3 agreement?

A COT3 is a legally binding settlement agreement reached through ACAS conciliation. Unlike a settlement agreement signed with a solicitor, a COT3 does not require independent legal advice to be binding.

Can I claim if I'm outside the time limit?

The tribunal can extend the time limit where it was "not reasonably practicable" to bring the claim in time (for most claims) or where it is "just and equitable" to do so (for discrimination claims). These are narrow exceptions — don't assume they apply to you. Take advice immediately.

What happens if I win?

The tribunal will order a remedy — usually compensation. For unfair dismissal this is a basic award plus a compensatory award. For discrimination, there is also injury to feelings. The tribunal may also recommend reinstatement or re-engagement, though this is rare in practice.

📞 Free help and support

ACAS: 0300 123 1100 — early conciliation and tribunal guidance

Employment Tribunal Service: employment-tribunals.service.gov.uk

Citizens Advice: 0800 144 8848

Free Representation Unit (FRU): fru.org.uk — free representation at tribunals

⚠ Important disclaimer: This guide covers employment tribunal procedure in England, Wales and Scotland as at July 2026. General legal information only — not legal advice. Verify with ACAS, GOV.UK or Citizens Advice before acting. ukworkrights.co.uk — Not a law firm.