How this works
Six things, and that is all of it
You do not need to be good with computers to use this. If you can use your phone, you can use this.
Write down one thing at a time
Every time something happens, add it as its own entry with the date it happened. Two lines is fine. You are not writing a letter.
You do not have to start at the beginning. Start with whatever is on your mind.
Say how you know it
Did you see it, were you told it, or is it what you think? Be honest, even when it is just your opinion. That honesty is what makes people believe the rest.
List anything you already have
Got an email, letter or message about it? Note what it says and where you keep it. You do not upload anything.
Lock it about once a week
Press Lock. It proves you wrote it all down at the time, not later. One lock covers everything so far.
It takes a few hours to finish. Come back later and press "Finish my locks".
Keep your copy safe
Use your own phone, never a work one. Press Save a copy now and then to keep a spare.
You can put Casebook on your home screen. It will show as an icon, so skip that if someone else might see your phone.
When you are ready, print or share it
Go to Print or share. Hand it to Acas, a union rep or a solicitor. They give the advice. This just gives them something clear to work from.
What this tool will never do
It will never tell you whether you have a case, whether anything was against the law, or what you should do next. It has no view on your situation. If you want someone to tell you what to do, that is Acas or a solicitor, and there are links on the help screen.
Step one
Start your record
A few basics, so whoever reads this knows who wrote it. All optional. You can change them any time.
In short
Write something down each time it happens. Say how you know. Lock it once a week. Print it when you need to show someone.
New entry
Record something
Stick to what you know. You can always add more later.
Two lines is fine. Nobody is marking this.
Worth knowing before you write
If this ever goes to a tribunal, you may have to share this record, including anything in it that doesn't help you. Write it as if the other side will read it.
How do you know this?
Add more detail
All optional. Skip any of it.
This corrects an earlier entry
Your first version stays in your record, marked as corrected. Nothing is ever deleted. That is what makes people trust it.
Your record
Your record
Emails and documents
Things you already have
An email, a letter, a text, a rota. Note what it says and where you keep it. You do not upload anything.
People
Who appears in your record
Add each person once. Then you can just pick them whenever you write something down.
Locking
Lock this record
Locking proves you wrote all this down at the time, not later. That is what makes people take it seriously.
Locked
Locked on a date anyone can check, even someone who does not trust you.
This is evidence.
Not locked yet
Saved, but the date only comes from your own phone or computer.
This is a note.
One lock covers everything before it
You do not need to lock after everything you write. One lock covers it all so far. Once a week is plenty.
How does locking work?
Your record is turned into a short code, like a fingerprint. Only that code is sent, to a free public service. Your words are never sent, and cannot be worked out from the fingerprint. The service publishes the fingerprint into a public record that nobody controls, which is what makes the date checkable by someone who does not trust you.
That publication is not instant. It takes a few hours to complete. Until it has, your lock is marked as still finishing, and pressing Finish my locks completes it.
The alternative is a plain email to yourself containing the fingerprint. Your email provider stamps the time, on equipment neither you nor your employer controls. Weaker, but it needs nothing from anyone.
Checking
Check my record
One button. It confirms nothing in your record has changed since you wrote it.
You never have to do this. It is here so you can satisfy yourself, and so you can say truthfully that you checked.
What can a lock prove?
It proves you wrote something by a certain date. So nobody can say you made it all up afterwards.
It cannot prove what you wrote is true, and it does not cover anything written since your last lock.
Print or share
Print or share your record
One document to hand to Acas, a union rep or a solicitor. It starts by explaining what it is, so they know straight away.
If someone asks to check your locks, give them these two files as well: and .
Where to get help
Real advice, from people
This tool records. It does not advise. These do.
Acas
Free advice about problems at work. They are on nobody’s side. Usually the best first call.
acas.org.uk
Protect
The UK whistleblowing charity. Confidential advice line for people who have raised, or are thinking about raising, a concern.
protect-advice.org.uk
Your trade union
If you are a member, your rep is free, local and already knows the employer.
Citizens Advice
Free advice, including on employment.
citizensadvice.org.uk
An employment solicitor
The Law Society's Find a Solicitor lists qualified employment solicitors near you.
solicitors.lawsociety.org.uk
On time limits
Employment tribunal claims usually have to be started within three months less one day of the thing you are complaining about, and you normally have to contact Acas before you start one. Which date that runs from depends on your own situation, and there are exceptions. This tool cannot work it out for you and does not try. Speak to Acas early rather than close to it.
What this website can and cannot see
Nothing you write in this tool is ever sent anywhere. There is no account, no upload and no analytics, and your record cannot be read by anyone but you.
Two honest exceptions, both small. Like every website, the server that sent you this page briefly logs that a request came from your internet address, and when. It never sees anything you type. And if you choose to lock your record, a short code made from it is sent to a free public service. Your words are not sent and cannot be worked out from the code.
Nothing else leaves your device, ever.
Telling someone outside your employer
Some concerns can be reported to an outside body, not only to your employer. Gov.uk publishes the list of who covers what, at gov.uk/whistleblowing. This tool does not tell you which one applies to you.