This booklet is also available in the following languages: Bengali, Hindi, Gujarati, Urdu, Punjabi, Cantonese, Welsh and Gaelic. For a copy
please telephone the Customer Services Team on 0161 833 6314. Please note this booklet is for information only. All forms
and correspondence must be completed in English except for parties to claims brought in Wales.
Please see here
for further details.
Introduction
The following pages contain guidance on what Employment Tribunals do and how to apply to an Employment Tribunal. It is a guide only and
not a statement of the law.
They hear applications (sometimes called ‘complaints’) and appeals about matters to do with employment. These matters include unfair
dismissal, redundancy payments, sex, race and disability discrimination together with certain issues relating to wages and terms and
conditions of employment. A full list, called a jurisdiction list, is available from your local tribunal office or through the public enquiry line.
Other information booklets which explain each jurisdiction are available from your local Jobcentre.
Most cases are heard at permanent tribunal offices although additional centres are hired where necessary. An Employment Tribunal is like a
court but it is not as formal, for example, nobody wears a wig or gown. However, like a court it must act independently and cannot give legal
advice. Almost all hearings are open to the public.
The tribunal generally has three members. The ‘Chairman’ is legally qualified and is appointed by the Lord Chancellor. The other two
members are lay members and are appointed by the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry from persons with experience in dealing with
work related problems. Although the three members are appointed by Government Ministers, they are independent of and not influenced by
the Government.
The tribunal has an overriding objective which is to deal with your case justly. This includes doing what it can to ensure that all parties are on
an equal footing, and dealing with your case as quickly as possible in a way which is proportionate to the complexity of the issues. You must
assist the tribunal in achieving the objective.
The tribunal will always send a written decision and its reasons for making that decision to the parties or to their representatives. There are
limited rights to apply for a review of the decision, or to lodge an appeal against it to the Employment Appeal Tribunal within set time limits.
Most tribunal hearings are public and the press are free to attend and report the proceedings.
However, where a case involves allegations of sexual misconduct (which may, or may not be a sexual offence), the tribunal may make a
‘Restricted Reporting Order’. This prevents the media from naming specific individuals until the tribunal has sent out its written decision.
If a case involves allegations of a sexual offence, the names of all those affected by the allegation are left out of all public records.
The Employment Tribunals have a public enquiry line which is able to answer general enquiries, give information about tribunal publications
and explain how the tribunal system works.
The enquiry line number is 0845 795 9775. All calls are charged at local rate.
Offices in Bury St Edmunds and Glasgow hold public registers of applications and tribunal decisions for England and Wales and for Scotland
respectively.
• Advisory Conciliation and Arbitration Service (ACAS) on 08457 474 747
• unions and employers’ organisations, if you are a member;
• voluntary advice services such as Citizens’ Advice Bureaux and law centres;
• the Equal Opportunities Commission 08456 015 901 if you have a complaint of sex discrimination, the Commission for Racial Equality
(020) 7939 000 if you have a complaint of race discrimination; and the Disability Rights Commission
0845 7622 6333 if you have a complaint of disability discrimination; and
• solicitors and other professional advisers.
Solicitors firms and advice agencies funded by the Community Legal Service may be able to help you with preparing your case. Details of the
help available can be found in the booklet ‘A Practical Guide to Community Legal Service funded by the Legal Services Commission’ which is
available from the LSC leaflet line on 0845 300 0343. However, this does not apply to representation at a hearing. It may be possible for a
solicitor to represent you on a ‘no win, no fee’ basis.
There are two other booklets which give more information about Employment Tribunals. What to do if taken to an Employment Tribunal is
provided to the respondent when your application is sent to them. The other Hearings at Employment Tribunals will be sent to you along with
the notice of hearing, if your case proceeds to a hearing. Copies of either booklet can be requested from our Enquiry Line.
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The easiest way is to complete the application form in this booklet and send it to the appropriate tribunal office - see ‘Where to send your
application’ overleaf. You should answer all the questions on the application form which apply to your complaint. Alternatively, you may send
a letter to the appropriate tribunal office giving your name and address, the name and address of the person or company you are complaining
about (the respondent) and full details of your complaint. You can obtain extra application forms from Jobcentres, Law Centres and Citizens
Advice Bureaux.
Alternatively you can apply on-line by accessing the Employment Tribunals website at
www.employmenttribunals.gov.uk.
If you know that the respondent is insolvent, you should give the name and address of the insolvency practitioner (the receiver or liquidator)
who is dealing with the respondent’s financial matters.
When you have completed the form you should send it to the relevant tribunal office (see ‘Where to send your application’) and keep a copy
for your records. There is no need to send other documents at this stage.
If it is important for you to ensure that your application is received within the relevant time limit, your application can be faxed or delivered by
hand. If you fax your application do not post a copy as well.
If you wish to apply on-line you can do so by completing the application form on the Employment Tribunals website at
www.employmenttribunals.gov.uk.
Once you have submitted your completed form it will be sent automatically to the relevant tribunal office which will deal with your case. You
should keep a copy of the completed form for your records. There is no need to send a duplicate by post or to send other documents at this
stage.
Important: You should be aware that it is your responsibility to ensure that the tribunal office receives your application within the relevant
time limit. Applications sent by e-mail are not guaranteed to reach their destination within the usual, or expected, time period for the despatch
and receipt of e-mail communications.
You will need to know the postcode for the place where you worked. If you have never worked for the employer use the postcode for the
place where the matter which you are complaining about happened.
Refer to the chart here and send it to the tribunal office listed against the code. For example PE10, 11 or 12 should go to the
Nottingham Office (the full address of each office is here).
If you are e-mailing your application you can find a full list of tribunal office e-mail addresses
here.
Sending your application to the wrong office may cause delay. If you are in doubt where to send it, call the Employment Tribunal enquiry line
on 0845 795 9775.
The tribunal will accept correspondence sent by e-mail and a full list of employment tribunal office e-mail addresses is
here. You should ensure that your case reference number is quoted in any correspondence and that it is sent to the tribunal office dealing with your
application.
Documents sent to the tribunal must be in a ‘Word’ compatible format, documents in other formats will
not be accepted.
On receipt of your e-mail the tribunal office will issue an electronic acknowledgement but
will not correspond or conduct proceedings by e-mail. This is because it cannot be assumed that the other party can or will wish to correspond by e-mail and it is important that both sides
are dealt with in an even-handed manner and, that being so, both will be corresponded with in the normal way by post.
Correspondence sent by e-mail will be treated in the same way as that received in other forms ie by letter or fax. We ask that you do not send
further e-mails or telephone the tribunal office to confirm receipt unless you have not received an acknowledgement within two working days
of sending your e-mail.
Important: you should be aware that it is your responsibility to ensure that the tribunal office receives your application or any other
correspondence within the relevant time limit. Correspondence sent by e-mail is not guaranteed to reach its destination within the usual, or
expected, time period for the despatch and receipt of e-mail communications.
Please note that tribunal offices are unable to deal with the general enquires by e-mail.
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Time limits in Employment Tribunals are much shorter than in other courts. In most cases the tribunal must receive your application within
three months beginning with the date your employment ended, or in some cases when the matter you are complaining about happened.
This means that if it happened on 1st March, the tribunal must receive your application on or before 31st May; if it happened on 5th March,
the tribunal must receive your application on or before 4th June.
If your application is received outside the three months time limit, the tribunal will probably not be able to consider it. However, sometimes
the tribunal can consider late claims depending on the reason for the delay. If the application is late, the tribunal may hold a preliminary
hearing to consider why the application was late and whether it can proceed further or it may decide to do that as a preliminary issue at the
full hearing.
If you are applying for a redundancy payment, there are specific time limits which are complicated. You should seek advice immediately. You
can get help from the Redundancy Payment Helpline 0845 145 0004.
If you are applying under the provisions of the National Minimum Wage Act 1998, you can get help from the National Minimum Wage Helpline
0845 600 0678.
Special additional rules apply if you believe that you were dismissed for one of the following reasons:
• union activities;
• union membership or non-membership;
• health and safety activities either as an employers health and safety ‘officer’ or a workers representative;
• activities as a pension scheme trustee;
• being or proposing to become an ‘employee representative’
• shop workers and betting workers who refuse Sunday work; and
• certain provisions covered by the Working Time Regulations.
In these circumstances you can apply for an immediate reemployment order but the tribunal
must receive your application within seven days of your dismissal.
The hearing which decides this matter is called an ‘interim relief’ hearing (see booklet
‘Hearings at Employment Tribunals’).
This is a complex matter and you should get advice straight away.
The law on time limits is complicated and if you have any doubt you should get advice about them immediately.
Generally no. However, where in the opinion of the tribunal, a party has in bringing the proceedings, or a party or a party’s representative
has in conducting the proceedings, acted vexatiously, abusively, disruptively or otherwise unreasonably, or the bringing or conducting of the
proceedings by a party has been misconceived, the tribunal may make an order in respect of all or part of the other party’s costs.
When the tribunal receives your application it is given a case number and acknowledged. You should quote the case number whenever you
contact the tribunal office. If you have not heard from them within a week of sending your application you should contact the tribunal office
where you sent your form to enquire if it has been received.
A copy of your application is sent to the respondent within five days of receipt, together with the booklet
‘What to do if taken to an Employment Tribunal’. They will also be sent a form on which they can say whether they resist your application and, if so, why. That form is
called a ‘Notice of Appearance’.
In most cases a copy is also sent to ACAS, which is the independent conciliation service. They will try to help you and the respondent reach a
settlement of your claim. There is no charge for this service. The tribunal is not normally told about letters and discussions with ACAS without
the agreement of the parties. If the claim is settled with ACAS’s help, the tribunal will write to you confirming that there will be no hearing and
that the case is closed. The agreement can be enforced in the County Court if either party fails to honour it.
The respondent should reply within 21 days of receiving your application from the tribunal. A respondent who does not reply, will not be
allowed to resist the application. However, if the respondent sends in the notice of appearance form late, the tribunal might still allow the
respondent to resist your claim but you may be entitled to costs caused by the delay.
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Where you are no longer employed you may be entitled to make a claim for ‘breach of contract’ against your former employer, but you should
be aware that your employer may then make a ‘breach of contract’ claim against you.
Once your application and the notice of appearance from the respondent have been received a number of issues may arise before your case
is heard.
For example, a party or the tribunal itself may seek more information from the other side. The tribunal may give directions or issue orders on
this and other matters relating to the case, which you will be expected to follow. If witnesses are vital to the case but will not attend freely,
Witness Orders can be requested and may be granted to compel attendance.
In a more complex case, the tribunal may hold a directions hearing to deal with such matters. If a party fails to comply with a direction or order
made by the tribunal, whether at a directions hearing or otherwise, they may be ordered to pay all or some of the other party’s costs.
The tribunal writes to all the parties at least 14 days before the day of the hearing to tell them when the hearing will take place. This is called
a Notice of Hearing. With this you will be sent a booklet ‘Hearings at Employment
Tribunals’ which will help you prepare. If the hearing date is one which it is not possible for one of your witnesses to attend, e.g. because they have a pre booked holiday, you should write to the tribunal
immediately giving a full explanation of the circumstances and offer alternative dates. The tribunal will advise you if your request for a
postponement has been granted or not.
You should not assume that your request has been granted until the tribunal office confirms this in writing. The Chairman may wish to have
the views of the other party before reaching a decision.
You, your witnesses and volunteer advocates (for example unpaid Citizens’ Advice Bureau representatives) may be entitled to travelling
costs and other allowances when attending the tribunal. These change from time to time so you should contact the tribunal office to find out
how much you can claim.
The tribunal will not pay legal costs.
Yes, but you must do so in writing to the tribunal formally withdrawing your complaint. You must do so as soon as possible. If you do not
withdraw your complaint until the last minute there is a possibility that the tribunal may order you to pay costs to the other party in preparing
for the hearing. You should also tell the other party that you are withdrawing.
Yes. Interlocutory hearings, pre-hearing reviews, preliminary hearings and review hearings - these are explained in the booklet ‘Hearings at Employment Tribunals’.
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Some information given to the Employment Tribunals in the course of case proceedings may be held on computer for administrative and statistical puposes. You can request a copy of this electronic information by writing to the Data Protection Officer, Department of Trade and Industry, IMPE Directorate, LG139, 1 Victoria Street, London SW1H 0ET. For further information on the Data Protection Act you can visit
www.dataprotection.gov.uk.
Information about the Employment Tribunals Service (ETS), the administrative support agency of the Employment Tribunals, is available through the ETS Publication Scheme. You can find out what information is available by visiting our website at
www.ets.gov.uk or alternatively by writing to the Communications Unit, Level 2, St Mary’s House, c/o Moorfoot, Sheffield, S1 4PQ.
There may be a charge for responding to any requests for information.
In accordance with the Welsh Language Act guidelines, the Employment Tribunals and its administrative support agency, the Employment Tribunals Service, operate a non-statutory voluntary scheme for Welsh speakers. Parties to claims brought in Wales may request that contact with the tribunal office, including correspondence and telephone calls, be in Welsh. If both parties agree, hearings may be conducted solely in Welsh. Where both English and Welsh are to be used at a hearing, translation facilities can be provided on request.
If you or anyone attending a tribunal with you has a requirement because of a disability or a particular need, you should contact the tribunal office dealing with your case to discuss the matter. Examples of the help we can provide include, converting documents into Braille or larger print, providing information on audio tape and payment for sign language interpreters. Please contact us as soon as possible, in order to give us the opportunity to assist you.
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Application The claim submitted to the Employment Tribunal. Alternative words are ‘claim’ and ‘complaint’.
Applicant The person who makes an application to the Employment Tribunal (in the case of an appeal the correct term is ‘appellant’). Alternative words which have the same meaning are ‘claimant and ‘complainant’.
Respondent The person, company or organisation against whom the applicant is bringing a case. An alternative word which has the same meaning is ‘defendant’.
Party Either the applicant or the respondent (and ‘parties’ means both the applicant and the respondent).
Appeal This refers to an appeal against a health and safety notice issued by the Health & Safety Executive, Environmental Health Authority or Environment Agency, Levy assessment or under the National Minimum Wage enforcement and penalty provisions.
(The expression ‘appeal’ is also used to refer to applications to the Employment Appeal Tribunal complaining that an Employment Tribunals decision was wrong on a point of law)
Hearing When parties attend before the tribunal. There are different types which are dealt with in more detail in ‘Hearings at Employment Tribunals’
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The standards that you can expect from the Employment Tribunals Service are detailed in our ‘Charter statement’. Copies can be requested
from the enquiry line on 0845 795 9775 or from any of our tribunal offices (see the back cover for details).
If you want to bring anything to our attention our comments and complaints procedure is outlined in our leaflets called ‘Having your say’ and
‘Putting things right’. These can also be obtained from the enquiry line or any tribunal office.
Further information can also be obtained via the Employment Tribunals and Employment Tribunals Service websites. These can be accessed
through www.employmenttribunals.gov.uk and
www.ets.gov.uk
| Postcode |
Tribunal Office |
Postcode |
Tribunal Office |
| AL |
Watford |
NW7 |
Watford |
| B |
Birmingham |
NW8 |
London Central |
| BA1-16 |
Bristol |
NW9 |
Watford |
| BA20-22 |
Exeter |
NW10-11 |
London Central |
| BB |
Manchester |
OL1-13 |
Manchester |
| BD |
Leeds |
OL14 |
Leeds |
| BH |
Southampton |
OL15-16 |
Manchester |
| BL |
Manchester |
OX |
Reading |
| BN |
Southampton |
PE1-6 |
Leicester |
| BR |
Ashford |
PE7 |
Bury St Edmunds |
| BS |
Bristol |
PE8 |
Bedford |
| CA |
Newcastle |
PE9 |
Leicester |
| CB |
Bury St Edmunds |
PE10-12 |
Nottingham |
| CF |
Cardiff |
PE13-19 |
Bury St Edmunds |
| CH1-3 |
Liverpool |
PE20-25 |
Nottingham |
| CH4-8 |
Shrewsbury |
PE26-28 |
Bury St Edmunds |
| CH41-66 |
Liverpool |
PL |
Exeter |
| CM |
Stratford |
PO |
Southampton |
| CO |
Bury St Edmunds |
PR1-7 |
Manchester |
| CR |
London South |
PR8-9 |
Liverpool |
| CT |
Ashford |
PR25-26 |
Manchester |
| CV |
Birmingham |
RG1-20 |
Reading |
| CW1-5 |
Shrewsbury |
RG21-28 |
Southampton |
| CW6-10 |
Liverpool |
RG29-45 |
Reading |
| CW11-12 |
Shrewsbury |
RH1-14 |
London South |
| DA |
Ashford |
RH15-17 |
Southampton |
| DE1-7 |
Nottingham |
RH18-20 |
London South |
| DE11-15 |
Leicester |
RM |
Stratford |
| DE21-75 |
Nottingham |
S |
Sheffield |
| DH |
Newcastle |
SA |
Cardiff |
| DL |
Newcastle |
SE |
London South |
| DN1-12 |
Sheffield |
SG1-7 |
Bedford |
| DN14-20 |
Leeds |
SG8-14 |
Bury St Edmunds |
| DN21 |
Nottingham |
SG15-19 |
Bedford |
| DN22 |
Sheffield |
SK |
Manchester |
| DN31-41 |
Leeds |
SL |
Reading |
| DT1-5 |
Southampton |
SM |
London South |
| DT6-8 |
Exeter |
SN1-6 |
Bristol |
| DT9-11 |
Southampton |
SN7 |
Reading |
| DY |
Birmingham |
SN8-26 |
Bristol |
| E |
Stratford |
SO |
Southampton |
| EC |
London Central |
SP |
Southampton |
| EN |
Watford |
SR |
Newcastle |
| EX |
Exeter |
SS |
Stratford |
| FY |
Manchester |
ST1-13 |
Shrewsbury |
| GL |
Bristol |
ST14 |
Leicester |
| GU1-10 |
London South |
ST15-21 |
Birmingham |
| GU11-14 |
Southampton |
SW1-2 |
London South |
| GU15-16 |
London South |
SW3 |
London Central |
| GU17 |
Reading |
SW4 |
London South |
| GU18-25 |
London South |
SW5-7 |
London Central |
| GU26-35 |
Southampton |
SW8-9 |
London South |
| GU46-52 |
Southampton |
SW10 |
London Central |
| HA |
Watford |
SW11-20 |
London South |
| HD |
Leeds |
SY1-22 |
Shrewsbury |
| HG |
Leeds |
SY23-25 |
Cardiff |
| HP1-5 |
Watford |
TA1-5 |
Exeter |
| HP6-22 |
Reading |
TA6-9 |
Bristol |
| HP23 |
Watford |
TA10-24 |
Exeter |
| HP27 |
Reading |
TD**** |
Newcastle |
| HR |
Cardiff |
TF |
Shrewsbury |
| HU |
Leeds |
TN1-4 |
Ashford |
| HX |
Leeds |
TN5-7 |
London South |
| IG |
Stratford |
TN8-18 |
Ashford |
| IP |
Bury St Edmunds |
TN19-22 |
Southampton |
| KT |
London South |
TN23-31 |
Ashford |
| L |
Liverpool |
TN32-33 |
Southampton |
| LA1-6 |
Manchester |
TN34-38 |
Ashford |
| LA7-23 |
Newcastle |
TN39-40 |
Southampton |
| LD |
Cardiff |
TQ |
Exeter |
| LE |
Leicester |
TR |
Exeter |
| LL |
Shrewsbury |
TS |
Newcastle |
| LN |
Nottingham |
TW1-5 |
London South |
| LS |
Leeds |
TW6 |
Watford |
| LU |
Bedford |
TW7-20 |
London South |
| M |
Manchester |
UB |
Watford |
| ME |
Ashford |
W1-4 |
London Central |
| MK |
Bedford |
W5 |
Watford |
| N1-2 |
London Central |
W6 |
London Central |
| N3 |
Watford |
W7 |
Watford |
| N4-8 |
London Central |
W8-12 |
London Central |
| N9 |
Watford |
W13 |
Watford |
| N10-11 |
London Central |
W14 |
London Central |
| N12 |
Watford |
WA1-2 |
Liverpool |
| N13 |
London Central |
WA3 |
Manchester |
| N14 |
Watford |
WA4-13 |
Liverpool |
| N15-19 |
London Central |
WA14-16 |
Manchester |
| N20-21 |
Watford |
WC |
London Central |
| N22 |
London Central |
WD |
Watford |
| NE |
Newcastle |
WF |
Leeds |
| NG |
Nottingham |
WN1-7 |
Manchester |
| NN1-13 |
Bedford |
WN8 |
Liverpool |
| NN14-18 |
Cardiff |
WR |
Birmingham |
| NN29 |
Bedford |
WS |
Birmingham |
| NP |
Cardiff |
WV |
Birmingham |
| NR |
Bury St Edmunds |
YO1-19 |
Leeds |
| NW1-3 |
London Central |
YO21-22 |
Newcastle |
| NW4 |
Watford |
YO23-62 |
Leeds |
| NW5-6 |
London Central |
|
|
|
|
****TD
post code area - English locations only - Scotland has its own
tribunals |
|
|
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| Ashford |
1st Floor, Ashford House, County Square
Shopping Centre, Ashford, Kent TN23 1YB |
01233 621346, Fax: 01233 624423 |
| Bedford |
8-10 Howard Street, Bedford MK40 3HS |
01234 351306, Fax 01234 352315 |
| Birmingham |
Phoenix House, 1-3 Newhall Street,
Birmingham B3 3NH |
0121 236 6051, Fax: 0121 236 6029 |
| Bristol |
The Crescent Centre, Temple Back, Bristol
BS1 6EZ |
0117 929 8261, Fax: 0117 925 3452 |
| Bury St Edmunds |
100 Southgate Street, Bury St Edmunds,
Suffolk IP33 2AQ |
01284 762171, Fax: 01284 706064 |
| Cardiff |
2nd Floor, Caradog House, 1-6 St Andrews
Place, Cardiff CF10 3BE |
029 2067 8100, Fax: 029 2022 5906 |
| Exeter |
2nd Floor, Keble House, Southernhay
Gardens, Exeter EX1 1NT |
01392 279665, Fax: 01392 430063 |
| Leeds |
4th Floor, Albion Tower, 11 Albion Street,
Leeds LS1 5ES |
0113 245 9741, Fax: 0113 242 8843 |
| Leicester |
Kings Court, 5a New Walk, Leicester LE1
6TE |
0116 255 0099, Fax: 0116 255 6099 |
| Liverpool |
1st Floor, Cunard Building, Pier Head,
Liverpool L3 1TS |
0151 236 9397, Fax: 0151 231 1484 |
| London Central |
19-29 Woburn Place, London WC1H 0LU |
020 7273 8603, Fax: 020 7273 8686 |
| London South |
Montague Court, 101 London Road, West
Croydon CR0 2RF |
020 8667 9131, Fax: 020 8649 9470 |
| Manchester |
Alexandra House, 14-22 The Parsonage,
Manchester M3 2JA |
0161 833 0581, Fax: 0161 832 0249 |
| Newcastle |
Quayside House, 110 Quayside, Newcastle
Upon Tyne NE1 3DX |
0191 260 6900, Fax: 0191 222 1680 |
| Nottingham |
3rd Floor, Byron House, 2a Maid Marian
Way, Nottingham NG1 6HS |
0115 947 5701, Fax: 0115 950 7612 |
| Reading |
5th Floor, 30-31 Friar Street, Reading RG1
1DY |
0118 959 4917, Fax: 0118 956 8066 |
| Sheffield |
14 East Parade, Sheffield S1 2ET |
0114 276 0348, Fax: 0114 276 2551 |
| Shrewsbury |
Prospect House, Belle Vue Road, Shrewsbury
SY3 7NR |
01743 358341, Fax: 01743 244186 |
| Southampton |
3rd Floor, Duke’s Keep, Marsh Lane,
Southampton SO14 3EX |
023 8071 6400, Fax: 023 8063 5506 |
| Stratford |
44 The Broadway, Stratford E15 1XH |
020 8221 0921, Fax: 020 8221 0398 |
| Watford |
3rd Floor Radius House, 51 Clarendon Road,
Watford, Hertfordshire WD1 1HU |
01923 281 750, Fax: 01923 281 781 |
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