Big change to employment tribunal time limits

From today (1 October 2026) Employment Tribunal time limits to increase

The deadline for bringing most Employment Tribunal claims has now doubled from 3 months to 6 months. This is one of the first major employment law changes to take effect this autumn.

The new time limit applies to many common claims, including:

• Unfair dismissal
• Discrimination
• Working time claims
• National Minimum Wage claims
• Worker status disputes and other statutory employment claims

A few important points to consider:

• The change generally applies where the dismissal, act or omission being complained of occurred on or after 1 October 2026.
• Claims arising wholly before that date will usually remain subject to the previous 3-month limit.
• The ACAS Early Conciliation process remains in place and continues to affect limitation periods in the usual way.

For employers, this means a longer period of uncertainty following workplace disputes and highlights the importance of retaining relevant documents and evidence.

For employees, it provides additional time to seek advice and consider their options.

How Morr & Co can help?

If you have any questions on the content of this article or you believe your employment documentation and HR processes need to be reviewed after the increase in Employment Tribunal time limits. Please do not hesitate to contact our  Employment team on 0333 038 9100  or email info@morrlaw.com and a member of our expert team will get back to you.

Disclaimer
Although correct at the time of publication, the contents of this newsletter/blog are intended for general information purposes only and shall not be deemed to be, or constitute, legal advice. We cannot accept responsibility for any loss as a result of acts or omissions taken in respect of this article. Please contact us for the latest legal position.