Make a claim to an employment tribunal
If you win your case
If you win your case, the tribunal can order the losing party to do certain things depending on the type of case. Examples include:
- paying you compensation
- paying you any witness expenses you’ve paid
- taking steps to reduce the effects of discrimination against you
- giving you your job back, if appropriate
If you get compensation, the amount can depend on:
- the type of case - there are limits on certain cases
- how much money you’ve lost because of the respondent’s actions
- your age, length of service and salary
If the respondent does not pay
If you do not get your payment, contact them to find out why.
If they still do not pay, you can ask the Fair Work Agency to contact them. You can also ask a court to force them to pay.
You cannot do these things if the respondent has appealed, or is about to. They have 42 days to appeal.
If the respondent is ‘insolvent’ (for example, they’re in administration, liquidation or receivership) you can make a claim for money they owe you, including redundancy payments.
Ask the Fair Work Agency to tell the respondent to pay
You can ask the Fair Work Agency to contact the respondent and tell them to pay your employment tribunal award.
The respondent will get a warning notice telling them to pay. If they do not respond to the notice within 28 days, they may have to pay a fine.
You can still get a court to force them to pay.
Forcing them to pay if you’re in England or Wales
You can use the Fast Track scheme to send a high court enforcement officer (similar to a bailiff) to demand payment from the respondent. It costs £71, which is added to the debt the respondent owes you.
Fill in the Fast Track Enforcement form (or an application to enforce an award form if your case was settled before a hearing) and send it to the address on the form.
You can also ask the local County Court to get the money from the respondent.
Fill in an application to enforce an award form and send it with a copy of the tribunal’s decision to your local County Court. They will review your application and register a County Court Judgment for debt.
The respondent will get an email or letter that explains the debt they owe and when they must pay it by.
If they do not respond by the deadline, fill in an application for a warrant form and send it to your local County Court. They will send a county court bailiff to get the money from the respondent. This costs £83, which is added to the debt the respondent owes you.
Forcing them to pay if you’re in Scotland
Write to the office that heard your case and ask for an ‘extract of the judgment’. A sheriff officer can use this to force the respondent to pay.