Employment Tribunals

Before making a claim to the employment tribunal service, try to resolve any issues with your employer informally first, if this is not successful write to your employer and request your issue be heard through the company's grievance procedure. It's important you do this because the employment tribunal service can reduce any award by 25% if you do not participate in your company's grievance procedure without good reason.

If your employer does not have a grievance procedure or you have good reason for not attending your employer's grievance procedure, you may need to make an employment tribunal claim. Before you make a claim, you might want to talk to an employment law solicitor or Acas. If you are a business owner look at our employer advice section.

How to make an employment tribunals claim

You can apply to employment tribunals online by downloading their PDF form, once completed you can submit it online or post it. An employment tribunals claim submitted online will be processed quicker. If you apply online you will be given A unique employment tribunals reference number which includes confirmation of date and the time of online submission.

If you are going to post your claim, you need to make sure you send it to the correct employment tribunals office. To locate the correct office, use your workplace postcode and then check the employment tribunals 'hearing centre finder' to locate the nearest employment tribunals office near your workplace. Sending your claim to the wrong office will delay your claim.

You may want to contact an employment law solicitor to provide representation, employment law advice and help with submitting your employment tribunals claim form. You may be entitled to legal aid, plus some solicitors might offer a no win no fee service.

Information you need to put on your employment tribunals claim form:

+ your name and address
+ the company name and address where you work
+ the respondent's name (your employer)
+ details about your complaint

Is there a time limit for submitting claims to employment tribunals?

Yes, most claims to employment tribunals must be made within very strict time limits. In most cases the tribunal must receive your claim within three months.