Training obligations

Updating author: Nicola Stibbs

Brightmine editor: Laura Merrylees

Summary

• Save for health and safety training, employers are under no specific legal obligation to pay for (or sponsor) occupational or work-related training designed to enhance employees' qualifications and skills. (See The employer's common law and statutory duties and Occupational training)
• Training (or the lack of it) may be a factor in determining the fairness or otherwise of an employee's dismissal. (See Dismissing the incompetent employee)
• Employers that pay for, or subsidise, external training courses for their employees may be able to recover costs if employees leave after completing their course. (See Recovery of training costs)
• Some employees have a legal right to make a request in relation to study or training and have their request considered. (See Requests in relation to study or training)
• Young school leavers have the legal right, in prescribed circumstances, to be permitted a reasonable amount of paid time off work to enable them to pursue further studies. (See Time off for study or training: young persons)
• Safety representatives, union officials, pension scheme trustees and trade union learning representatives have the right to be permitted paid time off work to undergo training relevant to the performance of their functions or duties. (See Time off for training: safety representatives, Time off for training: pension scheme trustees, Time off for training: trade union officials, and Time off for training: trade union learning representatives)