time off for training

The Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills has announced proposals designed to give employees a legal right to request training from their employers after they have accumulated 26 weeks’ continuous service. It is proposed that the new right would operate in a similarly to the way in which employees are currently entitled to request flexible working, as employers will be required to consider requests from eligible employees to take time off from their duties in order to undertake training that will be relevant to their role and career progression. The government has started a consultation period which is open to all employers and employees to contribute to and which closes on 10 September 2008.