Qualifying Period - In order for an employee to take particular employment claims to a tribunal, that employee must have satisfied specific qualifying periods. In essence, the employee must have worked for their employer for a specific period of time (i.e. the qualifying period) before they can take a claim. For example, in order to take a claim of unfair dismissal against a previous employer, an employee must have worked for that employer for at least 52 weeks. However, certain pieces of legislation do not require a qualifying period such as equality legislation and claims under the Payment of Wages Act, 1991 amongst others.
