Understanding Employment Tribunals
Employment tribunals are specialised bodies that handle hearings between workers and employers to address disputes related to employment rights. The decisions made by employment tribunals carry legal weight and are binding.
Time Limit For Initiating Your Claim
Time is of the essence when it comes to employment tribunal claims. In most cases, you must commence proceedings within three months, minus one day, from either the date your employment terminated or the date of the incident that forms the basis of your complaint.
For specific cases such as discrimination claims or issues related to unpaid wages or holiday pay, the time limit starts from the date of the alleged act.
Initiating The Claim Process
To begin the claim process in the Employment Tribunal, it’s essential to notify ACAS (Advisory, Conciliation, and Arbitration Service) of the dispute. This step triggers the early conciliation process, where efforts are made to resolve the dispute. An extension of time may be granted during this period to seek resolution. However, it’s crucial to correctly initiate the process with ACAS within the three-month, minus one-day deadline. The time limit for submitting the claim is paused while the conciliation process is ongoing. If no settlement is reached, a certificate is issued, and the time limit starts running again.
If the early conciliation process is not initiated correctly, and you miss the ACAS deadline, your claim may not be accepted by the tribunal. While you can apply to the tribunal to present your claim out of time, exceptions are rare, and you may risk being time-barred.
Once the conciliation process concludes, you can lodge a claim with the employment tribunal. Again, it’s of utmost importance to meet the submission deadline. After the claim is submitted, the respondent has the opportunity to respond and provide their account of events to the employment tribunal.
How Gaddes Noble Law Can Assist You
Contact us for representation to ensure that you identify all your claims and give your case the best possible start.
We can assist with ACAS early conciliation, engaging with the conciliator to clarify your claims and address the issues between you and your employer. We can also help you in negotiating a settlement. If your employer does not offer fair compensation at this early stage, we can guide you through the process of pursuing a claim in the employment tribunal.
Call us today or complete the contact form on this page. Represented claimants often achieve better outcomes during the ACAS early conciliation process and throughout litigation.
Why Choose Gaddes Noble Law?
At Gaddes Noble Law, we are employment law experts with years of experience assisting employees in asserting their legal rights. We understand the anxiety that employment problems can create, and we are committed to being by your side, ensuring you achieve the outcome you desire.
We provide initial advice at no cost and often offer tribunal representation on a ‘no win, no fee’ basis or through your legal expenses insurance, or under a guaranteed fixed-fee arrangement. Your interests are our priority, and we are dedicated to ensuring a fair resolution for your case.