Time off for training – consultation

BIS (Department for Business, Innovation and Skills) has announced a short consultation seeking views about the future of the ‘right to request time to train’ legislation as part of announced a review of all regulations in a bid to reduce burdens on business.   The consultation, which closes on 15 September, is to consider whether the right should be repealed, retained for large organisations or extended to small and medium sized organisations as planned.  .

Since 6 April 2010, employees have had a legal right to make a request in relation to study or training – for example, time off work to study. The right is modelled on the procedure allowing parents and carers to make a request for flexible working. An employer may refuse of a request on one or more grounds specified in the legislation:

• that the proposed study or training would not improve the employee‚Äôs effectiveness in the employer‚Äôs business, or the performance of the employer‚Äôs business;
• the burden of additional costs;
• detrimental effect on ability to meet customer demand;
• inability to reorganise work among existing staff;
• inability to recruit additional staff;
• detrimental impact on quality;
• detrimental impact on performance;
• insufficiency of work during the periods the employee proposes to work; and
• planned structural changes.

You can download the consultation document here.