Jira & Confluence 
Bitrix24 Great Britain · Acas Code · tribunal limits from 1 October 2026
Problem at work you want in writing? — grievance letter ready, tribunal deadline counted
Short answer. Your grievance letter is open below: set out what happened and what you want. Unfair dismissal: Six months beginning with the effective date of termination (Employment Rights Act 1996, s.111(2), as amended by Employment Rights Act 2025, s.152 and Sch. 12).
- Six-month limit (date on or after 1 October 2026): the last day is the day BEFORE this date: type the date
- Old three-month limit (only if your date was before 1 October 2026): the last day is the day BEFORE this date: type the date
Check your own case.
Unfair dismissal: six months beginning with the effective date of termination (Employment Rights Act 1996, s.111(2)). Unlawful deductions: six months from the date of the payment with the deduction (s.23(2)). Discrimination: six months starting with the date of the act (Equality Act 2010, s.123(1)). 'Beginning with' means the start date counts, so the period ends the day before the date shown. The six-month limits apply only where that date is on or after 1 October 2026 (S.I. 2026/954, reg. 4); earlier dates keep three months. Acas early conciliation is required before most claims and can extend the limit; do not rely on the extension — contact Acas in good time.
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Lida, Layers template assistant
Give me the date your employment ended or the date it happened, and I will show you the last day to contact Acas.
Put the amount and the payslip date in the table. A grievance with numbers is much easier for HR to answer.
An illustrated character, not a lawyer.
Deadlines
The rules, with the source
| What | Deadline | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Unfair dismissal | Six months beginning with the effective date of termination | Employment Rights Act 1996, s.111(2), as amended by Employment Rights Act 2025, s.152 and Sch. 12 |
| Unlawful deduction from wages | Six months beginning with the date of the payment from which the deduction was made | Employment Rights Act 1996, s.23(2) |
| Discrimination at work | Six months starting with the date of the act (or such other period as the tribunal thinks just and equitable) | Equality Act 2010, s.123(1) |
| Which cases get six months | Only where the relevant date (e.g. the act, or the end of a series of acts) is on or after 1 October 2026 | S.I. 2026/954, regs. 3–4 |
| Acas early conciliation | You must give Acas the prescribed information before presenting most tribunal claims | Employment Tribunals Act 1996, s.18A(1) |
| Employer ignores the Acas Code | The tribunal may increase an award by up to 25% if the failure was unreasonable | Trade Union and Labour Relations (Consolidation) Act 1992, s.207A(2) |
Applies to employment tribunals in England, Wales and Scotland. Northern Ireland has its own industrial tribunal rules. A grievance does not pause the time limit.
Step by step
What to do, in order
1
Find your key date
Dismissal: your last day of employment. Pay: the payday with the shortfall. Treatment: the date of the act.
2
Check the limit
Enter the date above. On or after 1 October 2026 you have six months; before that, three.
3
Fill in the table
One line per event, with names and the evidence you hold.
4
Say what you want
Money with an amount, a corrected payslip, an apology, a change — be specific.
5
Send it in writing
E-mail or recorded delivery, so you can prove when they received it.
6
Contact Acas in time
If there is no fix, start early conciliation before the last day, even if the grievance is still open.
Questions
Is it really six months now?
Yes, for most claims where the dismissal or act happened on or after 1 October 2026. If your date was before 1 October 2026, the old three-month limit still applies.
Do I have to raise a grievance before going to a tribunal?
Not for every claim, but the Acas Code expects it, and if an employer unreasonably fails to follow the Code a tribunal can increase an award by up to 25%. A written grievance is also your record of what happened.
Does my grievance stop the tribunal clock?
No. The time limit runs from your key date. Contact Acas for early conciliation before the last day, whatever stage your grievance is at.
Official sources
Other documents
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This is a ready document and a deadline calculation, not legal advice.