In this month’s highlights, our team summarises the latest developments in UK employment law and their implications for employers. Catch up on September’s highlights here. All future implementation dates remain subject to parliamentary processes and may change.

Longer Tribunal Time Limits – and a Longer Conciliation Window

Two procedural changes have quietly reshaped the employment tribunal litigation timetable. On 1 December 2025, the Acas early conciliation period was extended from six weeks to 12 weeks. Since 1 October 2026, the time limit for most employment tribunal claims has increased from three to six months.

What Has Changed

The Employment Rights Act 2025 (the 2025 Act) extends the time limit for instituting tribunal claims from three to six months, effective from 1 October 2026. Tribunals retain their discretion to extend time.

The extension is not retrospective. The six-month limit applies only where the ‘relevant date’ falls on or after 1 October 2026. That date is defined on a case-by-case basis:

• For unfair dismissal, it is the effective date of termination.
• For an Equality Act 2010 or whistleblowing claim, it is the date of the act or, for conduct extending over a period, the end of that period (or the last act in a series).

Separately, the Employment Tribunals (Early Conciliation: Exemptions and Rules of Procedure) (Amendment) Regulations 2025 doubled the early conciliation period from six to 12 weeks for any form submitted to Acas on or after 1 December...

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