Employment tribunal time limits will double from three to six months on 1 October 2026

What is changing?

The government has made regulations bringing into force provisions of the Employment Rights Act 2025 that extend the time limit for most employment tribunal claims.

The new six-month limit will apply where the "relevant date" (typically the date of the act complained of or, for dismissal claims, the effective date of termination) falls on or after 1 October 2026. Claims based on acts or dismissals before this date remain subject to the existing three-month limit.

Learning points for employers

The change will extend the period of uncertainty following dismissals and workplace disputes. Together with the increase in the Acas early conciliation period from six to 12 weeks in December 2025, it may be considerably longer before employers know whether a claim will be pursued.

Employers should review their document-retention arrangements to ensure relevant records are preserved for long enough to deal with a potential claim. The longer time limit should also be factored into decisions about grievance handling and settlement discussions.

For more information or advice, please get in touch with Sofia Efstathiou in our Employment team.