The right to request time to train

The new right for employees to request time off work to get a professional qualification or a training which they believe will improve their performance and productivity will come into effect on 6 April 2010. Only employees who have worked at least 26 weeks in a business employing 250 people or more will have this privilege in 2010. The remaining group will gain this right in April 2011.

Implications for employers
Employers will not be required to pay for the training but they will be obliged to seriously consider their employee’s request and respond to this request in a ‘reasonable time period’. If they have a sound business reason to decline the request, they will be able to do so. There might however be alternative solutions to accommodate the time to train request, for example a flexible working time.

More information on the new right to request time to train will be available in January 2010.