Employment disputes

If you raise a grievance directly with your employer and they don’t deal with it properly, you can use ACAS early conciliation to try and settle the dispute out of court within a month (with a maximum 2-week extension). If it’s still unresolved, you’ll get an ACAS certificate which allows you to issue a claim in the Employment Tribunal.

Once you’ve issued a claim, your employer has 30 days to send their defence. The Tribunal will list the case for a full hearing in six to nine months, and we’ll work with you during this time to prepare your case. This can be a long and stressful process, but our employment tribunal solicitors have been through it many times and will support you every step of the way.

It’s important to speak to us as soon as possible, as you only have three months to start the ACAS process from the date of the employer's improper action.

If your claim goes to the Employment Tribunal or to court, possible outcomes are:

• Compensation
• Declaration of your rights
• Formal recommendation to your employer to prevent it happening again.

If we settle your claim through negotiation, we may be able to get a reference and an apology for you, as well as a confidentiality agreement and terms that protect your reputation. This can be much less stressful than going to court - and you may receive a more favourable compensation settlement.