Last reviewed: October 2026
If you have ever been pushed out of a job while pregnant, sidelined after maternity leave, or turned down for flexible working in a way that felt wrong, you will know how hard it is to think straight. You are tired. You are caring for a little one. You are trying to keep the peace at work. Until now, the law gave you just three months to decide whether to bring a claim.
That has changed. From 1 October 2026, the time limit for most employment tribunal claims is six months less one day. Here is what that means for you, and why it is still not a reason to wait.
What has changed?
The Employment Rights Act 2025 doubled the time limit for most employment tribunal claims. That includes the claims working mums bring most often:
- pregnancy and maternity discrimination
- unfair dismissal, including dismissal because of pregnancy or maternity leave
- sex discrimination, for example being refused flexible working in a way that disadvantages women
- being treated badly for taking maternity, paternity, shared parental or parental leave
Acas explains it simply: add six months to the date of the problem, then take off one day. If something happened on 1 October 2026, your deadline is 11.59pm on 31 March 2027.
Does it apply to me?
It depends on when the problem happened, not when you decide to act.
- On or after 1 October 2026: you have six months less one day.
- Before 1 October 2026: the old three months less one day still applies. Something that happened on 30 September 2026 has a deadline of 29 December 2026.
If you are dealing with a pattern of treatment that started before October and carried on after it, the clock usually runs from the last incident. That can mean the six month limit covers earlier events too. If you are unsure which limit applies, get advice early.
You still have to contact Acas first
Before you can make most tribunal claims, you must contact Acas for early conciliation. It is free, and an Acas conciliator will try to help you and your employer reach an agreement without going to tribunal.
The good news is that your time limit is paused while early conciliation is going on. The catch is that this only works if you contact Acas before your time limit runs out. So the date that really matters is the day you call Acas.
A grievance does not stop the clock
This catches so many mums out. You raise a grievance, your employer takes weeks to hold a meeting, then there is an appeal, and by the time it is all over your deadline has passed. Acas is clear that grievance, disciplinary and appeal processes do not change your time limit. You can raise a grievance and contact Acas at the same time.
Why you still should not wait
Six months is kinder to new mothers. It gives you room to recover from birth, gather your thoughts and talk things over with the people you trust. But time has a way of slipping by in those early months, and there are good reasons to move sooner rather than later:
- Evidence fades. Emails get deleted, messages get lost and memories blur.
- Witnesses move on. The colleague who saw what happened may leave.
- Early action often settles things. Many problems are resolved through a conversation or through Acas long before a tribunal is needed.
- Peace of mind. Carrying an unresolved injustice is exhausting. Knowing your next step can lift a weight.
Your simple action plan
- Write down the date of the problem, or the most recent incident if it has been ongoing.
- Work out your deadline: add six months and take off one day (or three months if it happened before 1 October 2026). Put it in your phone calendar with a reminder a month before.
- Keep a record: dates, what was said, who was there, and copies of emails and letters. Save them somewhere outside your work account.
- Raise it at work if you feel able to, through an informal chat or a written grievance.
- Contact Acas for early conciliation. Do not leave it to the last week.
- Get advice if you can. Acas, Citizens Advice, a trade union, Maternity Action or an employment solicitor can help you understand your options.
One honest word
Standing up for yourself at work when you have a baby on your hip is not easy, and it can feel like you are making a fuss. You are not. These rights exist because mothers before you fought for them, and using them is not ungrateful. Take a breath, take one step at a time, and trust that you do not have to carry this alone.
Related reading
- Employment Tribunal Claims for Pregnancy Discrimination: A Step by Step Guide
- Maternity and Paternity Leave in the UK: Your Complete Guide
- Flexible Working After Maternity Leave: Your Legal Rights Explained
- Pregnant or on Maternity Leave in 2027: The New Protections Coming Your Way
This article is general information about UK employment law, not legal advice about your situation. Sources: Acas, Employment tribunal time limits; Acas, Employment Rights Act 2025.
