From 1 October 2026, the time limit for bringing the majority of claims to an Employment Tribunal increased from three months to six months.
For most claims arising from something that happened on or after 1 October 2026, an employee will therefore usually have six months minus one day from the relevant event to bring their claim, subject to the rules on notifying Acas and Early Conciliation.
Claims relating to events before 1 October generally remain subject to the previous time limits, so employers may need to consider different limitation periods during the transitional period.
What should employers do?
Employers should review their grievance, disciplinary, dismissal and dispute-management procedures and ensure relevant employment records are retained appropriately.
The longer limitation period may mean employers receive tribunal claims several months after an employment issue occurred, reinforcing the importance of keeping clear records of decisions, investigations, meetings and correspondence.
Further information: Acas – Employment Tribunal time limits
