There are strict time limits for bringing a claim to an employment tribunal. Tribunals have limited discretion to allow late claims, which they exercise sparingly (late claims).
There is a standard form, known as an ET1, which must be used for making a claim to a tribunal. A claimant in England and Wales or in Scotland, as appropriate, should send his or her claim to the appropriate regional office of the employment tribunals. Applications can also be made online, by completing the form on the employment tribunals Web site ( Employment tribunals links ).
When it receives the claim, the tribunal office will check whether it should be accepted. The claim will not be accepted if it does not contain all the required information, or the claim is not one the tribunal has power to deal with, or, in most cases where the statutory grievance procedure applies, the claimant has not put his or her grievance to the employer in writing and waited at least 28 days before making the claim ( dealing with grievances ).