Is there a time limit on a person’s loss of earnings claim being processed and accepted by his or her employer? We have a formula agreed and operational whereby if a person suffers loss of earnings for, let’s say, loss of overtime, we analyse the figures involved, apply the formula and pay the agreed sum. My query is: does a time limit exist as to how long after a person’s loss occurs a loss of earnings claim should be accepted by the employer. We have a claim for loss of earnings which is two years late and would appear excessive.

The time period within which an employee should submit his or her loss of earnings claim to his or her employer for reimbursement will depend on the specific terms of the employee’s contract of employment. If such issue is not addressed in the employee’s contract or the employer’s policies then it will be a matter for the employer to decide whether or not to accept and process the request for reimbursement of lost earnings by a particular employee. Obviously in order to ensure the maximum degree of industrial harmony, it would be preferable for any relevant time limit to be prescribed in employees’ contracts of employment or the employer’s policies.

In analysing whether or not to process an