This is the one step in the route that cannot wait. Everything else — the form of the notice, your chances, talks about compensation — only matters inside those three weeks. While the deadline runs you have a position; after it, you do not.
Three weeks: the deadline that never comes back
From the moment written notice reaches you, you have three weeks to file at the labour court. Miss it and the dismissal counts as valid — however unlawful it was.
✓ Verified: 15/08/2026
WHAT TO DO
› Details and tips
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Max recommends:
I spent four days negotiating with HR hoping for an amicable outcome. It never came — and the three weeks did not pause for a single day.
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Lea recommends:
Set your reminder for day 14, not day 21. That leaves a week to find a lawyer and prepare, rather than panic on the final evening.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What happens if I miss the three weeks? ▾
The dismissal counts as valid from the outset, regardless of how well founded it was. The law says so expressly: if no claim is filed in time, its invalidity is no longer examined. Late admission exists only in narrow cases where you genuinely could not file on time.
Which day does the clock start on? ▾
The day the written notice reaches your sphere of control — into your letterbox, your hand, your desk. The date printed on the letter and the date it was posted are irrelevant.
What if I was on holiday or ill? ▾
The deadline runs anyway. A letter dropped into your letterbox counts as received even if you were abroad. That is exactly why, in a conflict with your employer, someone should be checking your post while you are away.
Do I need a lawyer to file? ▾
At first instance before the labour court representation is not mandatory; you can file yourself, including through the court’s filing office. But three weeks is unforgiving and badly framed claims are expensive, so advice before filing almost always pays for itself.