ET1A Form: How to Add Multiple Claimants to an Employment Tribunal Claim

Last updated: March 2026

Quick Answer

The ET1A is the form used when multiple employees are bringing the same or similar claims against the same respondent. It is submitted alongside the lead claimant's ET1. Each additional claimant must have their own ACAS Early Conciliation certificate and their own individual employment and earnings details. A single certificate cannot cover multiple claimants. Common scenarios include collective redundancy, TUPE transfers, systemic discrimination, and equal pay group claims.

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When to Use the ET1A

The ET1A is designed for situations where several individuals want to bring claims arising from the same or similar circumstances against the same employer. You would typically use it in cases of:

• Collective redundancy — multiple employees dismissed in the same redundancy exercise
• TUPE claims — employees affected by the same transfer of undertaking
• Systemic discrimination — multiple claimants alleging the same discriminatory practice or policy
• Equal pay — group claims seeking equal pay with the same comparators
• Failure to inform and consult — under s.188 Trade Union and Labour Relations (Consolidation) Act 1992

If you are adding further respondents (rather than further claimants), use Section 13 of the main ET1 form instead.

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Section 1: Additional Claimant's Details

For each additional claimant, complete the following fields. The ET1A mirrors the ET1 Section 1 structure:

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Section 2: Respondent's Details

The respondent details on the ET1A must match the ET1 exactly:

• 2.1 Respondent name — must be the identical legal entity named on the lead claimant's ET1
• 2.2 Address — same registered office or principal place of business
• 2.3 ACAS EC — each additional claimant must have their own ACAS Early Conciliation certificate. A single certificate cannot cover multiple claimants

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Sections 3–8: Employment and Claim Details

The ET1A replicates the employment detail sections from the ET1. Complete for each additional claimant individually:

• Sections 3–4 — multiple cases and non-employer respondent (mirror the lead ET1 where applicable)
• Section 5 — individual employment dates and job title for this claimant
• Section 6 — individual earnings and benefits (these will almost certainly differ between claimants)
• Section 7 — individual post-employment position (relevant to mitigation evidence)
• Section 8 — the claim type and details may cross-refer to the lead ET1's grounds of claim where the factual basis is common

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Practical Considerations

1. Identify a lead claimant — the lead's ET1 carries the full grounds of claim. Additional claimants' ET1A forms may cross-refer to those grounds rather than repeating them in full.

2. Time limits run individually — each claimant has their own limitation date. A group filing does not extend time for any individual claimant. If one person's deadline is approaching, do not wait for the group to be ready.

3. ACAS certificates are individual — one certificate per claimant per respondent. Batch ACAS notifications may be possible but must be confirmed directly with ACAS.

4. Multiple respondents on the ET1A — the form accommodates up to three respondents (Respondents 1–3). Use Section 13 of the main ET1 for additional respondents beyond three.

5. Individual loss calculations — even where the grounds of claim are common, each claimant's employment terms, earnings, and financial losses will differ. Ensure these are particularised for each person.

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The Tribunal's Power to Manage Group Claims

Under Rule 36 of the Employment Tribunals Rules of Procedure 2013, the tribunal may order a lead case or test case where there are common issues. This can be efficient for all parties — but individual claimants retain their own rights and are not bound by a lead case outcome unless they have agreed to be.

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Common Mistakes to Avoid

1. Failing to obtain individual ACAS EC certificates for each claimant
2. Assuming a group filing extends time for late claimants — it does not
3. Not particularising individual differences in employment terms or financial loss
4. Submitting the ET1A without the lead claimant's ET1 — both must be filed together
5. Name mismatches between individual ACAS certificates and the ET1A details

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How BundleCreator Helps

When your multiple-claimant case proceeds to a hearing, organising the bundle across several claimants can be complex. BundleCreator's employment tribunal bundle templates help you create a single, properly paginated bundle that works for group claims — with separate sections for individual documents and common evidence.

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Related Articles

• ET1 Claim Form: Complete Guide
• ET3 Response Form: Defending a Claim
• ACAS Early Conciliation Guide
• Employment Tribunal Time Limits
• Employment Tribunal Bundle Guide

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This article provides general information about employment tribunal procedures in England and Wales. It is not legal advice, and BundleCreator.co is not a law firm and does not provide legal services. Before submitting any documents to the Employment Tribunal, you should seek guidance from a qualified legal representative such as a solicitor, barrister, or trade union representative. Free initial advice may also be available from Citizens Advice, ACAS, or your local Law Centre.