Make a claim to an employment tribunal

You can make a claim to an employment tribunal if you think someone has treated you unlawfully, such as your employer, a potential employer or a trade union. 

Unlawful treatment can include: 

  • unfair dismissal 
  • discrimination 
  • unfair deductions from your pay 

You usually have to make a claim to the tribunal within three months of your employment ending or the problem happening. 

The tribunal is independent of government and will listen to you (the claimant) and the person you are making a claim against (the respondent) before making a decision. 

See if there is another way to solve the problem before you make a claim to a tribunal, such as using a grievance procedure (external link). 

Before you make a claim 

You must tell the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service (ACAS) that you intend to make a claim to the tribunal. 

You will be offered the chance to try and settle the dispute without going to court by using ACAS’s free Early Conciliation service (external link) 

If early conciliation does not work, ACAS will send you an early conciliation certificate - use this when you make a claim to the tribunal (external link)
 
Once you receive your certificate, you will have at least one month left to make your claim. 

Help you can get 

Call the Employment Tribunal customer contact centre if you have any questions about your claim. They cannot give you legal advice. 

Employment tribunal customer contact centre 

  • Telephone: 0300 123 1024 
  • Textphone: 18001 0300 123 1024 (England and Wales) 

Call ACAS if you have any questions about early conciliation. They cannot answer questions about your claim. 

ACAS 

  • Telephone: 0300 123 1100 
  • Textphone: 18001 0300 123 1100 
  • Monday to Friday, 8:00am to 6:00pm 

Legal help 

You may want to get legal help or advice (external link) if you are in England, Wales or Scotland before you make your claim. 

Your trade union may be able to pay for a solicitor. 

The Equality Advisory and Support Service (external link) can help if your claim is about discrimination. You may also be able to get legal aid (external link).