Time to Train
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q. How would Time to Train work?

A. The right to request time to train would work by giving employees a legal right to ask their employer to give them time away from their mainstream duties to undertake relevant training.

Employees' requests could be to undertake accredited programmes leading to a qualification, or for unaccredited training to help them develop a specific skill relevant to their job. In both cases, the only requirement would be that training should help the employee to be more productive and effective at work, and should help their employer to improve productivity and business performance.

Q. Would employers have to grant all requests?

A. The proposed new right would be a right to request time to train, and not a right to time to train. After seriously considering the request they receive, employers would be able reject a request for one or more of a prescribed list of acceptable business reasons

Q. When will Time to Train be implemented?

A. Subject to the outcome of the consultation which closed in September 2008 and the passage of legislation through Parliament, we would expect 'time to train' to be implemented in 2010.