Time off work for public duties

New and updated

• Type:

  Employment law guide

  Time off work

  The Government has confirmed that the new rights and protections for trade union representatives, including rights relating to reasonable time off work, will come into force on 30 October 2026.

• Type:

  Policies and procedures

  Time off for public duties policy

  A model policy setting out the rights of employees to statutory time off work to enable them to carry out public duties.

• Type:

  Letters and forms

  Letter confirming employee's time off for public duties

  A model letter to confirm to an employee that they have been granted time off work for public duties.

• Type:

  Quick reference

  Time off for public duties

  Updated to reflect that the Time Off for Public Duties Order 2018 is in force from 1 October 2018, extending the right to unpaid time off work to four groups of volunteers in the criminal justice system.

• Type:

  FAQs

  Are magistrates entitled to time off work to carry out their public duties?

• Type:

  FAQs

  Are local authority councillors entitled to time off to carry out their functions?

• Type:

  FAQs

  How much time off must an employer give an employee to carry out their public duties?

• Type:

  FAQs

  Do employees have to give notice of their intention to take time off for public duties?

• Type:

  FAQs

  Are employees entitled to take time off to perform voluntary work for a public organisation such as a school, hostel or hospital?

• Type:

  FAQs

  Are school governors entitled to time off work to fulfil their duties?