Right for time to train
Tue 12th Jan 2010
Employees, employers and the economy all stand to benefit from the new right to request time off work for training.
Tom Wilson, director of unionlean, said: 'This new right could transform learning at work. Employers can, of course, say no but will need to show good reason. The similar right to request flexible working resulted in millions of employees making requests with over 90 per cent being agreed by employers. Knowing that they have the right to ask will encourage millions of employees, putting pressure on employers who don't train to think again and helping all employees get a fair chance to improve their skills.'
'Union learning reps stand ready to help ensure requests are well made; and ensure employers consider requests properly. Individuals, employers, employees and the economy all stand to benefit from this new right.'
The Department for Business Innovation and Skills today (January 13) published guidelines on the new right to request time to train http://www.bis.gov.uk/time-to-train :
- From April 6, 11 million employees in Great Britain will have a new right to ask for time away from their normal duties to undertake training that they believe will improve their performance and the business.
- This can be undertaken on the employer's premises or elsewhere, including at your home.
- It can be provided or supervised by your employer or by someone else, for example a course run by a college or other training provider, with or without someone supervising you and within or outside the UK
Employers will be able to turn down requests where there is a sound business reason to do so.
Union Learning Reps will be working with employers to persuade them of the benefits of allowing their workforce time off their normal duties to improve their skills and learning. Employers will also be encouraged to make a contribution towards the training which will benefit the individual, employers and the economy.
Under 'time to train' right, you will be able to request:
- training leading to a qualification
- training to help you develop skills relevant to your job, workplace or business
- courses such as English for Speakers of Other Languages
There is no time limit for the length of time that the study or training may take.
The right will extend to employees working in businesses which employ 250 or more people. Only employees who have worked for 26 weeks will be eligible to make a request under the new right. The right will be extended to cover employees in businesses of all sizes in April 2011.