Extension of Time Limits for Bringing Tribunal Claims

The Time Frame For Bringing A Tribunal Claim Will Be Extended From Three to Six Months

Currently employees have three months from the date of the alleged offence (dismissal, deduction of wages, discrimination etc) to bring a claim with the employment tribunal. Although there is scope to extend this in certain circumstances, including stopping the clock during a short period of ACAS conciliation. The Government amended the Employment Rights Bill in November 2024 and that update introduced an extension of the three-month time limit to six-months. This wasn’t in the initial draft of the Bill, nor was it in the Kings Speech.

The extension will give employees longer to consider their situation, gather evidence and present a more compelling case. Coupling the extension with the removal of the qualifying period for bringing a claim of unfair dismissal will lead to an increase in the number of claims.

There is currently no reference to an extension to the ACAS Early Conciliation timeframe but hopefully that will be considered as that would lead to more pre-tribunal settlements.

Implementation to the Extension of Time Limits

The change is scheduled to be implemented in October 2026.