Employment dispute route: grievance → ACAS → Tribunal
Standard escalation route for unfair dismissal, discrimination, unpaid wages, and other Employment Tribunal claims.
When to use this route
You have an employment dispute and want to bring or threaten a Tribunal claim. ACAS Early Conciliation is mandatory before issuing.
When NOT to use this route
Personal injury at work (County Court / High Court); criminal aspects of workplace misconduct (police); pension disputes (Pensions Ombudsman).
Prerequisites
- • Employee or worker status (for relevant claims)
- • Claim within 3 months less 1 day from the act complained of
Evidence to gather
- • Contract of employment
- • Payslips and P60
- • Correspondence (emails, written warnings, grievance documents)
- • Witness statements
- • Schedule of loss
Route map
- Stage 1
Raise a grievance
Use the employer's grievance procedure. Set out the facts and the resolution you want.
- Stage 2
Appeal the grievance outcome
If unhappy with the response, appeal — this preserves your right to argue you exhausted internal procedures (ACAS Code of Practice compliance affects compensation uplift).
- Stage 3
ACAS Early Conciliation
Mandatory before issuing a Tribunal claim. ACAS notifies the employer and tries to broker a settlement (often a COT3).
Must be started within 3 months less 1 day of the Effective Date of Termination or act complained of - Stage 4
File ET1
If ACAS conciliation does not settle, file the claim form within the remaining (paused) limitation window. Free.
- Stage 5
Preliminary and full hearing
Case management identifies issues and orders; final hearing determines liability. Judgment normally in writing.
- Stage 6
Remedy hearing
If you win, the Tribunal sets compensation (basic + compensatory award).
Final remedies
- • Compensation (basic + compensatory award)
- • Reinstatement / re-engagement (rare)
- • Recommendation (discrimination cases)
- • Costs (only in limited circumstances)