Staff’s right to training

Apr 15 2009 by Sue Scott, Evening Gazette

COMPANIES across the North-east are being reminded of upcoming legislation obliging them to seriously consider employees’ requests for time to boost their skills while at work.

It is hoped that the new right to request time to train will make it possible for up to 25 million workers nationwide to enhance their abilities, as part of the drive to ensure that both businesses and individuals have the skills which they need to emerge strongly from the current economic downturn.

And the North-east’s leading independent insurance broker, Darlington-based BiB, has issued a fresh warning to firms that staff pleas for better personal development can no longer be ignored.

BiB Insurance says employers need to respond positively to requests from members of staff wanting to discuss their training needs, ahead of the new legislation which is expected to be introduced next year.

Research has suggested that a third of all companies offer their staff no training at all, with those firms more likely to fail than ones that give employees a chance to sharpen their skills.

Ministers are hopeful that the legislation will encourage employers to think more about staff needs and put themselves in a stronger position for the future.

Denis Pinnegar, BiB’s director of group development, said: “Employers must now seriously think about any request for business-relevant training from a member of staff.

“This could be a plea to go on an accredited course that leads to them gaining a new qualification or unaccredited training.

“Businesses should use the same processes they have in place for dealing with requests for flexible working.”

He added: “This should by no means be seen as a bad thing.

“The legislation has not been proposed to become a burden for businesses, but to help them increase productivity and staff morale.

“Firms will need to remember that members of staff have this right once it becomes law, but that requests should be relevant to their jobs,” added Mr Pinnegar.

“Hopefully, it will encourage better processes for personal development of staff to be put in place.”