Time Off with Pay - Acas consults on time off for trade union duties and activities

Written by Ian Congreave - Filed under: Time off (paid and unpaid) on December 29th, 2008

Acas has published a consultation document on a revised Code of Practice on time off for trade union activities and duties. The document also includes a draft Guide on Developing effective employee representation: a guide to managing provisions for time off, training and facilities.

The Code of Practice provides guidance on the statutory rights to

time off for trade union duties, for officials and shop stewards
time off to perform duties of Union Learning Representatives
training of union officials in aspects of employee relations and employee development
time off for trade union activities.

Other than for time off for trade union activities, time off must be with full pay. The Code explains the payment rules. Certified trade union representative are also entitled to paid time off in order to accompany workers at disciplinary and grievance hearings.

The draft Guide on employee representation takes a broader view of the nine types of workplace representatives (not necessarily with employers where trade unions are recognised) who have statutory rights to perform their duties, namely

Trade union representatives
Union Learning Representatives
Health and Safety representatives
TUPE representatives
Information and Consultation representatives
Employee members of European Consultative Bodies
Pension representatives
Collective redundancy representatives
Workplace agreement representatives.

All of these groups have statutory protection against dismissal and detriment. Groups 1 to 8 are entitled to paid time off to carry out their duties and Groups 1 to 4 are additionally entitled to paid time off for training.

Guidance is provided on the training of workplace representatives, their access to facilities, and drawing up agreements on time off, training and facilities.

The consultation period runs until 16 March 2009.

Further information:
Consultation on the Acas Code of Practice 3 on time off for trade union duties and activities

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Written by Ian Congreave -

Filed under: Time off (paid and unpaid) on December 29th, 2008