9 to Life
An empty office desk just after five, coat on the chair, clock on the wall.

Independent UK employment rights guide

UK employment rights, from the employee's side

Most employment law content is written for HR departments managing risk. This is written for the person on the other side of that desk, wondering how long they actually have to do something, and what actually changed this year.

Two analog clocks, one small and one large.

Work out your tribunal deadline

Three months or six depends on the date of the act, not today's date. The calculator applies the 1 October 2026 rule and the Acas pause.

Open the calculator
A brown envelope, a circled calendar date, and a notepad on a kitchen table.

You've been dismissed this week

What to do in the first 48 hours, before anyone asks you to sign.

Read the checklist

What changed and when

Deadlines by claim type

Practical steps

Employment law here changes in stages rather than all at once, so a page written in early 2026 can be describing a right that doesn't take effect until later that year. Every page states its assumptions and the date it was last checked.

Quick answers

How long do I have to bring an employment tribunal claim?
Three months less a day if the act or effective date of termination is before 1 October 2026, and six months less a day if it is on or after that date. Acas early conciliation pauses the clock.
Does a grievance or appeal pause the tribunal deadline?
No. Only Acas early conciliation pauses limitation. Internal processes do not.
Is this legal advice?
No. 9 to Life is general information for England, Wales and Scotland. Speak to Acas, a solicitor, or your union about your facts.