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Employment Tribunals Act 1996

1996 c. 17 · Enacted 22 May 1996 · Extends to England, Wales and Scotland

Not fully up to date. 29 changes made by later legislation have not yet been written into this text, which is revised to 1 October 2026.

See the changes not yet applied
ProvisionChangeMade by
s. 4(1)(b) and wordssubstituted for s. 4(1)(b)Employment Rights (Dispute Resolution) Act 1998 s. 4
s. 17(1)words repealedWelfare Reform Act 2009 Sch. 7 Pt. 1
s. 16(5)(e)words repealedWelfare Reform Act 2009 Sch. 7 Pt. 1
s. 16(3)(c)words repealedWelfare Reform Act 2009 Sch. 7 Pt. 1
s. 16(3)(b)words repealedWelfare Reform Act 2009 Sch. 7 Pt. 1
s. 16(3)(a)words repealedWelfare Reform Act 2009 Sch. 7 Pt. 1
s. 32(2)words substitutedJudicial Review and Courts Act 2022 Sch. 5 para. 21(a)
s. 7A(2F)insertedJudicial Review and Courts Act 2022 Sch. 4 para. 1(2)
s. 30substitutedJudicial Review and Courts Act 2022 s. 34(3)
s. 32(7)(b)(i)words substitutedJudicial Review and Courts Act 2022 Sch. 5 para. 21(b)
s. 32(8)words substitutedJudicial Review and Courts Act 2022 Sch. 5 para. 21(c)
s. 29A(11)insertedJudicial Review and Courts Act 2022 Sch. 4 para. 1(3)
s. 34(2)words substitutedJudicial Review and Courts Act 2022 Sch. 5 para. 22(3)
s. 34(3)words substitutedJudicial Review and Courts Act 2022 Sch. 5 para. 22(4)
s. 34(4)words substitutedJudicial Review and Courts Act 2022 Sch. 5 para. 22(5)
Sch. A1 para. 21AinsertedJudicial Review and Courts Act 2022 Sch. 4 para. 1(4)
s. 34(1)substitutedJudicial Review and Courts Act 2022 Sch. 5 para. 22(2)
s. 14(1)words substitutedJudicial Review and Courts Act 2022 Sch. 5 para. 13
s. 14(3)(f)words substitutedJudicial Review and Courts Act 2022 Sch. 5 para. 13
s. 30AinsertedJudicial Review and Courts Act 2022 Sch. 5 para. 19
s. 31(1)words substitutedJudicial Review and Courts Act 2022 Sch. 5 para. 20(a)
s. 31(7)(a)(i)words substitutedJudicial Review and Courts Act 2022 Sch. 5 para. 20(b)
s. 18(1)(b)words insertedWorkers (Predictable Terms and Conditions) Act 2023 Sch. para. 2
s. 18(1)(b)words insertedEmployment Rights Act 2025 Sch. 2 para. 5(b)
s. 12A(11)words substitutedEmployment Rights Act 2025 Sch. 2 para. 3(3)
s. 18(1)(b)words insertedEmployment Rights Act 2025 Sch. 2 para. 5(a)
s. 12Amodified by 1996 c. 18, Sch. A1 para. 27(6) (as inserted)Employment Rights Act 2025 Sch. 1
Pt. 2Amodified by 1996 c. 18, Sch. A1 para. 27(6) (as inserted)Employment Rights Act 2025 Sch. 1
s. 12A(11)words insertedEmployment Rights Act 2025 Sch. 2 para. 3(2)

An Act to consolidate enactments relating to F2employment tribunals and the Employment Appeal Tribunal.

[22nd May 1996]

C1C2Be it enacted by the Queen’s most Excellent Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and Commons, in this present Parliament assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:—C3C4C5

Annotations to the whole text

Textual amendments

F1

The Industrial Tribunals Act 1996 may be cited as the Employment Tribunals Act 1996 (1.8.1998) by virtue of 1998 c. 8, s. 1(2) (with s. 16(2)); S.I. 1998/1658, art. 2(1), Sch. 1

F2

Words in long title substituted (1.8.1998) by 1998 c. 8, s. 1(2)(b) (with s. 16(2); S.I. 1998/1658, art. 2(1), Sch. 1

Modifications

C1

Act excluded (2.3.1998) by S.I. 1998/218, art. 6

Act excluded (1.9.1999) by S.I. 1999/2256, art. 6(1)

C2

Act excluded (E.) (1.9.2003) by The Education (Modification of Enactments Relating to Employment) (England) Order 2003 (S.I. 2003/1964), art. 6(1)

Act excluded (W.) (12.5.2006) by The Education (Modification of Enactments Relating to Employment) (Wales) Order 2006 (S.I. 2006/1073), art. 6(1)

C3

Act applied (with modifications) (1.10.2010) by The Employment and Support Allowance (Transitional Provisions, Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit) (Existing Awards) Regulations 2010 (S.I. 2010/875), regs. 1(2), 16, Sch. 2 (which amending S.I. was revoked (27.8.2010) by S.I. 2010/1906, reg. 2)

C4

Act applied (with modifications) (1.10.2010) by The Employment and Support Allowance (Transitional Provisions, Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit) (Existing Awards) (No. 2) Regulations 2010 (S.I. 2010/1907), reg. 16(2)(c), Sch. 2

C5

Act modified (30.7.2020) by The Posted Workers (Agency Workers) Regulations 2020 (S.I. 2020/384), regs. 1(1), 4 (with reg. 5)

Contents

  1. Part I: Employment Tribunals
  2. Introductory
  3. 1Employment tribunals
  4. Jurisdiction
  5. 2Enactments conferring jurisdiction on employment tribunals.
  6. 3Power to confer further jurisdiction on employment tribunals.
  7. Membership etc.
  8. 3AMeaning of “Employment Judge”
  9. 4Composition of tribunals.
  10. 5Remuneration, fees and allowances.
  11. 5ATraining etc.
  12. 5BMembers of employment tribunals: removal from office
  13. 5COaths
  14. 5DJudicial assistance
  15. Procedure
  16. 6Conduct of hearings.
  17. 7Practice and procedure: general
  18. 7APractice directions
  19. 7BMediation
  20. 8Procedure in contract cases.
  21. 9Preliminary hearings.
  22. 10National security.
  23. 10AConfidential information. Repealed
  24. 10BRestriction of publicity in cases involving national security.
  25. 11Restriction of publicity in cases involving sexual misconduct.
  26. 12Restriction of publicity in disability cases.
  27. Financial penalties
  28. 12AFinancial penalties
  29. Costs etc, interest and enforcement
  30. 13Costs and expenses.
  31. 13APayments in respect of preparation time
  32. 14Interest.
  33. 15Enforcement.
  34. Recoupment of social security benefits
  35. 16Power to provide for recoupment of benefits.
  36. 17Recoupment: further provisions.
  37. Conciliation
  38. 18Conciliation : relevant proceedings etc..
  39. 18ARequirement to contact ACAS before instituting proceedings
  40. 18BConciliation before institution of proceedings: other ACAS duties
  41. 18CConciliation after institution of proceedings
  42. 19Conciliation procedure.
  43. 19AConciliation: recovery of sums payable under settlements
  44. Part II: The Employment Appeal Tribunal
  45. Introductory
  46. 20The Appeal Tribunal.
  47. Jurisdiction
  48. 21Jurisdiction of Appeal Tribunal.
  49. Membership etc.
  50. 22Membership of Appeal Tribunal.
  51. 23Temporary membership.
  52. 24Temporary additional judicial membership.
  53. 24ATraining etc. of members of Appeal Tribunal
  54. 24BOaths
  55. 25Tenure of appointed members.
  56. 26Staff. Repealed
  57. 27Remuneration, pensions and allowances.
  58. 28Composition of Appeal Tribunal.
  59. Procedure
  60. 29Conduct of hearings.
  61. 29APractice directions
  62. 30Appeal Tribunal procedure rules.
  63. 31Restriction of publicity in cases involving sexual misconduct.
  64. 32Restriction of publicity in disability cases.
  65. 33Restriction of vexatious proceedings.
  66. 34Costs and expenses
  67. Decisions and further appeals
  68. 35Powers of Appeal Tribunal.
  69. 36Enforcement of decisions etc.
  70. 37Appeals from Appeal Tribunal.
  71. 37ZAAppeals to Supreme Court: grant of certificate by Appeal Tribunal
  72. 37ZBAppeals to Supreme Court: permission to appeal
  73. 37ZCAppeals to Supreme Court: exclusions
  74. Part 2A: Financial penalties for failure to pay sums ordered to be paid or settlement sums
  75. 37ASums to which financial penalty can relate
  76. 37BFinancial award: unpaid amount
  77. 37CSettlement sum: unpaid amount
  78. 37DUnpaid amount of relevant sum: further provision
  79. 37EWarning notice
  80. 37FPenalty notice
  81. 37GAppeal against penalty notice
  82. 37HInterest and recovery
  83. 37IWithdrawal of warning notice
  84. 37JWithdrawal of penalty notice
  85. 37KReplacement penalty notice
  86. 37LEffect of replacement penalty notice
  87. 37MEnforcement officers Repealed
  88. 37NPower to amend Part 2A
  89. 37OModification in particular cases
  90. 37PGiving of notices
  91. 37QFinancial penalties for non-payment: interpretation
  92. Part III: General and Supplementary
  93. Procedure Rules
  94. 37QAProcedure Rules
  95. 37QBPower to amend legislation in connection with Procedure Rules
  96. Crown employment and Parliamentary staff
  97. 38Crown employment.
  98. 39Parliamentary staff.
  99. General
  100. 40Power to amend Act.
  101. 41Orders, regulations and rules.
  102. 42Interpretation.
  103. Final provisions
  104. 43Consequential amendments.
  105. 44Transitionals, savings and transitory provisions.
  106. 45Repeals and revocations.
  107. 46Commencement.
  108. 47Extent.
  109. 48Short title.
  110. Schedule A1: Procedure Rules
  111. Part 1: Objectives
  112. 1Paragraph 1
  113. Part 2: Content of Procedure Rules
  114. 2Delegation of functions to staff
  115. 3Time limits
  116. 4Determining where to start proceedings
  117. 5Repeat applications
  118. 6Tribunal acting of its own initiative
  119. 7Hearings
  120. 8Proceedings without notice
  121. 9Representation
  122. 10Intervention by Secretary of State
  123. 11Evidence, witnesses and attendance
  124. 12Use of information
  125. 13Set-off
  126. 14Reconsideration or review of decisions
  127. 15Correction of errors and setting aside of decisions on procedural grounds
  128. 16Registration and proof of decisions
  129. 17Ancillary powers
  130. 18Rules may refer to practice directions
  131. 19Presumptions
  132. 20Differential provision
  133. Part 3: Supplementary provision
  134. 21Procedure for making Procedure Rules
  135. 22Interpretation
  136. Schedule 1: Consequential amendments
  137. The Transport Act 1968 (c.73)
  138. 1Paragraph 1
  139. The Transport Holding Company Act 1972 (c.14)
  140. 2Paragraph 2
  141. The Sex Discrimination Act 1975 (c.65)
  142. 3Paragraph 3 Repealed
  143. The Race Relations Act 1976 (c.74)
  144. 4Paragraph 4
  145. The Aircraft and Shipbuilding Industries Act 1977 (c.3)
  146. 5Paragraph 5
  147. The Judicial Pensions Act 1981 (c.20)
  148. 6Paragraph 6
  149. The Social Security Administration Act 1992 (c.5)
  150. 7Paragraph 7
  151. The Trade Union and Labour Relations (Consolidation) Act 1992 (c.52)
  152. 8Paragraph 8
  153. The Tribunals and Inquiries Act 1992 (c.53)
  154. 9Paragraph 9
  155. The Judicial Pensions and Retirement Act 1993 (c.8)
  156. 10Paragraph 10
  157. The Pension Schemes Act 1993 (c.48)
  158. 11Paragraph 11
  159. The Disability Discrimination Act 1995 (c.50)
  160. 12Paragraph 12
  161. Schedule 2: Transitional provisions, savings and transitory provisions
  162. Part I: Transitional provisions and savings
  163. 1Paragraph 1
  164. 2Paragraph 2
  165. 3Paragraph 3
  166. 4Paragraph 4
  167. 5Paragraph 5
  168. 6Paragraph 6
  169. Part II: Transitory provisions
  170. Disability discrimination
  171. 7Paragraph 7 Repealed
  172. Jobseeker’s allowance
  173. 8Paragraph 8
  174. Armed forces
  175. 9Paragraph 9
  176. 10Paragraph 10
  177. Schedule 3: Repeals and revocations
  178. IRepeals
  179. IIRevocations
  180. TABLE OF DERIVATIONS
  181. 1Notes:
  182. 2Paragraph 2