You must present a claim to an employment tribunal within certain time limits.
The time limit for unfair dismissal is three months from (and including) the effective date of termination. Most other (but not all) time limits are three months and the date it runs from will depend on the nature of the claim. This could be one of the following, amongst other things:
- The date of the act to which the complaint relates
- The date of the conduct complained of
- The date of the last act or failure to act
- The date when the failure occurred
- The date when the right should have been permitted
- The effective date of termination
- The date of the last deduction or last payment to the employer
Claims for unfair dismissal, and some others, may have the time limit extended by an amount that the tribunal considers reasonable. This can happen if the tribunal is satisfied the complaint could not reasonably have been presented before the end of the original three-month period.
A tribunal can extend the time for discrimination claims by an amount it believes to be just and equitable.
Although a tribunal can extend the time limit, the decision to do so will depend on the facts and applicable law(s) as determined by the tribunal.