Mr C D Blakeman-Hall v Biffa Municipal Limited — 2025

This was a preliminary hearing on time limits before Employment Judge Volkmer at Bodmin on 26 September 2025. The claimant did not attend. The judgment records that the claim had been presented on 6 September 2024 and that the parties disputed the effective date of termination: the claimant said the employment ended in October 2023, while the respondent said it ended on 23 November 2023. The tribunal took 23 November 2023 as the relevant date for limitation purposes.

On that basis, the primary three-month time limit expired on 22 February 2024. The tribunal held that ACAS early conciliation did not extend time because ACAS was notified only on 28 February 2024, after the primary period had already expired. The tribunal also noted repeated case management directions requiring evidence about delay, including medical records, a schedule of loss and a witness statement, but none were provided. It declined to place weight on an email from Cornwall Neighbourhoods for Change because it was hearsay.

The tribunal found there was no evidence that it had not been reasonably practicable for the claim to be presented in time. It therefore held that the claim was out of time, that it did not have jurisdiction to hear the claimant’s complaints, and dismissed the claim. No merits findings and no monetary remedy were made.