Received an Employment Tribunal claim? The clock is already running. The tribunal must receive your response within 28 days of the date it sent you the claim form, not the date you opened the letter.
This 19-page guide explains what to do, from the employer's side, in plain English. You don't need a legal background.
Inside:
The first 48 hours: what to do before anything else
How the 28-day deadline works, and what to do if you need more time
Reading the claim form and checking it against your records
ACAS early conciliation and why it matters to your response
Deciding your position and completing the ET3 response form
What happens if you miss the deadline or your response is rejected
What happens after you file
Money and risk, at the level of headlines
A quick reference with key terms and sources
It is written for employers and managers in England and Wales, including small and medium businesses. It does not cover Scotland, Northern Ireland, preparing for a hearing, valuing a claim, or appeals. Law stated as at 29 September 2026.
Want worksheets to go with it? See the ET1 Response Worksheets pack."
General information, not legal advice. It does not predict or guarantee the outcome of any claim. ET3 is not a law firm and is not regulated by the Bar Standards Board, the Solicitors Regulation Authority or the Financial Conduct Authority.
Received an Employment Tribunal claim? The clock is already running. The tribunal must receive your response within 28 days of the date it sent you the claim form, not the date you opened the letter.
This 19-page guide explains what to do, from the employer's side, in plain English. You don't need a legal background.
Inside:
The first 48 hours: what to do before anything else
How the 28-day deadline works, and what to do if you need more time
Reading the claim form and checking it against your records
ACAS early conciliation and why it matters to your response
Deciding your position and completing the ET3 response form
What happens if you miss the deadline or your response is rejected
What happens after you file
Money and risk, at the level of headlines
A quick reference with key terms and sources
It is written for employers and managers in England and Wales, including small and medium businesses. It does not cover Scotland, Northern Ireland, preparing for a hearing, valuing a claim, or appeals. Law stated as at 29 September 2026.
Want worksheets to go with it? See the ET1 Response Worksheets pack."
General information, not legal advice. It does not predict or guarantee the outcome of any claim. ET3 is not a law firm and is not regulated by the Bar Standards Board, the Solicitors Regulation Authority or the Financial Conduct Authority.