Employment Tribunal
The Employment Tribunal is a specialist court that hears disputes between employers and employees or workers, including claims for unfair dismissal, discrimination, unpaid wages, and redundancy. Claims must generally be brought within three months of the act complained of. Most claims are heard by a judge sitting alone or with lay members. Costs awards are rare; each party usually bears its own costs.
The Employment Tribunal is a specialist court in England, Wales, and Scotland that hears workplace disputes. Claims must generally be submitted within 3 months minus 1 day of the act complained of (time-limited periods are paused during Acas Early Conciliation). Common claim types include unfair dismissal (compensation capped at £118,223 or 52 weeks' gross pay in 2025/26), unlawful wage deductions, discrimination, and whistleblowing detriment. There are no tribunal fees (fees were abolished in 2017). Each party usually bears its own costs except in cases of unreasonable conduct. Hearings are relatively informal; lay members with employer/employee expertise sit alongside the judge in discrimination cases. Parties can represent themselves or use a solicitor, union representative, or employment law specialist. Decisions are publicly available on the GOV.UK Employment Tribunal decisions service.
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