Right to request time off for training and study

From 6 April 2010 employees will be able to request unpaid time off work to undertake training or study. This right will apply for employees in organisations with 250 employees or more and the legislation is expected to be extended to cover all employees in whatever size of organisation from April 2011.

Eligibility for this new right will follow a similar procedure to that of the right to request flexible working. The employee will need to show the employer that the training or study will improve both their effectiveness at work and the performance of the employer’s business.

Action Steps

Employers will need to put policies in place to deal with these requests. Also, employers can refuse the request by the employee but it must have a good business reason for doing so.