New rights to training for employees

Employers have been issued with guidance on the new right of employees to request training in the workplace. Under the new legislation, eligible employees will have a legal right to ask their employer to give them time away from their core duties to undertake relevant training. While employers will be obliged to seriously consider requests, they may still refuse a request where there is a good business reason for doing so. The legislation is set to come into force on 6 April 2010 for employers with 250 or more employees and will be extended to all employers from April 2011.