There are different time limits depending on the type of claim that is being pursued, but as a very general rule, the majority of claims need to be brought within 3 months of the date of the act complained of. For example, if you believe you have been unfairly dismissed, the time limit would normally be 3 calendar months from the date of dismissal. If in doubt, always start from the earliest incident or trigger for a claim.
You should also be aware that an Employment Tribunal claim cannot be brought until you have attempted early conciliation through ACAS (Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service). ACAS act as an impartial intermediary to help resolve a dispute. If conciliation is not successful and you still need to bring an Employment Tribunal claim, where both parties have actively engaged in the process, you can usually obtain a lawful extension of time for lodging the claim by the same period of time spent engaged in conciliation.
