emplaw.co.uk employment law web updater summary 27 August 2008

Summary Information : FSB urges government to reduce red tape on training - FSB 26.8.08 Responding to a government consultation paper on increasing the rights of employees to request time off work to undertake training, the Federation of Small Businesses has called for exceptions to be made for small businesses. Under the proposals from the Department for Innovation, Universities and Skillls, employers will be required to hold formal meetings with employers requesting time off to train. The FSB has called for businesses employing under 20 people to be able to hold informal meetings without the necessity of union representation. Colin Willman, Education and Skills Chairman, said: "The ‘time to train’ process is too expensive and too bureaucratic for small firms as it stands and the FSB is concerned that the employee’s right to request a meeting to discuss time off to train will not only lead to an extra layer of bureaucracy, but will also lead to panic amongst small businesses that a refusal could be interpreted as constructive dismissal. We believe the best way to engage small businesses with the policy are to keep it informal between employer and employee, making it easier to identify the necessary training." See related topic on emplaw.co.uk: (subscribers); or here (non-subscribers) To continue to full item click here