Employment Rights Act 2025

Time limits for tribunal claims

The Employment Rights Act 2025 will, from 1 October 2026, extend time limits for bringing tribunal claims from three to six months.

Currently, most tribunal claims need to be brought within three months of the act complained of. A pledge to increase tribunal time limits was included in the Labour Party’s Plan to Make Work Pay. 

All employees will have six months to bring a claim. This will apply to all types of claims, including discrimination claims, unfair dismissal claims and breach of contract claims. 

The new time limits will apply only where the relevant act, detriment or termination takes place on or after 1 October 2026. Existing rules on extending time limits, including the effect of ACAS early conciliation in pausing limitation periods, will remain unchanged.