How should I communicate with the Employment Tribunals?
The HMCTS staff who administer the Employment Tribunals service are very busy. Email correspondence is preferred to post or telephone calls.
If you wish to call, please note that the telephone lines are open from Monday to Friday between 9am and 5pm. Most staff members will be supporting a hearing between 9.30am and 10.30am, so please try to avoid calling the office between these times unless it relates to a hearing on the day of your call.
If you write to the regional office of the Employment Tribunals where your case is progressing, please quote the case number that has been allocated to the case you are bringing or defending. This helps staff to find your file more quickly. With emails, please put the case number in the subject field. Please do not telephone the office to check that your email has arrived, unless you have not received the standard automated response system to confirm receipt.
Please only send one copy of correspondence to the office. There is no need to send the same item by email or fax, followed by a copy in the post. This causes delay.
Please do not mark an item as “urgent” unless this is truly necessary, for example where it relates to an imminent deadline or hearing.
Please only send correspondence to the Employment Tribunals when you are asking for something or making an application. It is not necessary to copy your correspondence with the other side of your case, if you are not asking for something or making an application. This can prompt unnecessary replies from the other side. It also causes delay.
When sending any correspondence to the Employment Tribunal office (except when making a request for someone to give evidence at a hearing), you must also send a copy to all other parties and ensure that this is made clear to the ET in your correspondence. This is required by rule 92 of the Employment Tribunal Rules of Procedure.
If you have not copied the other parties in to your correspondence, you should say that to the Employment Tribunal office and you should explain why. The tribunal will then consider your explanation and let you know if you need to take any further steps.
HMCTS staff aim to deal with new claims within 3 to 5 working days. They aim to respond to other correspondence within 10 working days. If your correspondence is in relation to a hearing due to take place within 10 working days, it will be treated as a matter of priority.