Cases1401728/2024

Claimant v D

10 July 2025Before Employment Judge GraySouthamptonin person

Outcome

Partly successful

Individual claims

Unfair Dismissalfailed

The claim was presented out of time. The tribunal found it was reasonably practicable for the claimant to have presented the claim in time and therefore declined to extend the time limit under ERA 1996 s.111(2).

Direct Discrimination(sex)not determined

The claim was presented out of time but the tribunal found it just and equitable to extend time under EqA 2010 s.123(1)(b). The claim therefore continues to a full merits hearing.

Facts

This was a preliminary hearing to determine whether the claimant's claims of unfair dismissal and direct sex discrimination should be allowed to proceed despite being presented out of time. The parties were anonymised as C and D. Both parties were represented by counsel.

Decision

The tribunal dismissed the unfair dismissal claim as out of time, finding it was reasonably practicable to present in time. However, the tribunal exercised its discretion to extend time for the sex discrimination claim on just and equitable grounds, allowing that claim to proceed to a full merits hearing.

Practical note

Tribunals apply different time limit tests to unfair dismissal (reasonably practicable) versus discrimination claims (just and equitable), with the latter providing greater flexibility to extend time.

Legal authorities cited

Statutes

ERA 1996 s.111(2)EqA 2010 s.123(1)(b)

Case details

Case number
1401728/2024
Decision date
10 July 2025
Hearing type
preliminary
Hearing days
1
Classification
contested

Respondent

Name
D
Sector
Represented
Yes
Rep type
barrister

Claimant representation

Represented
Yes
Rep type
barrister