What are the time limits for an employee to make an Employment Tribunal claim?
The time limits depend on the type of claim and should be checked in each case, but the rules are generally strict. In most cases the tribunal must receive a claim within 3 months from the date employment ended or when the matter being complained about happened. If the claim is received outside the time limit, the tribunal will probably not be able to consider it unless there are exceptional reasons for the delay. For example, the claimant may have been in hospital for the period when they should have made their claim. If a claim is accepted, the tribunal office will send the employer a copy of the claim form (ET1) together with a form for any defence (ET3). If no defence is received within 28 days, a tribunal may consider issuing a default judgment in favour of the employee.
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