UK: Appeals against dismissal - employer delay may lead to extension of tribunal claim deadline

Some employers may be tempted to delay an internal appeal against dismissal until the deadline for a tribunal unfair dismissal claim has expired, in the hope that this may prevent the employee litigating. The EAT has ruled that this may not work where an employee is "reasonably" ignorant of the time limit before receiving the outcome of the appeal.  The tribunal may conclude that it was not reasonably practicable to bring the claim in time in these circumstances and grant a further reasonable period of time to submit the claim. (John Lewis Partnership v Charman, EAT)