Extending Entitlement to Time Off for Civic Duties

The Department for Communities and Local Government has carried out a consultation on widening the range of civic duties for which employees are entitled to take reasonable time off work under section 50 of the Employment Rights Act 1996. Currently, officers such as magistrates, local councillors, school governors, and members of health bodies or police authorities are entitled to time off from work to carry out the role. For a full list, see http://www.berr.gov.uk/whatwedo/employment/employment-legislation/employment-guidance/page16377.html.

Amongst those to whom the Government intends to extend the right are those serving on probation and court boards, youth offender panel members and those who serve on the governance and decision making boards in the social housing sector.

The consultation paper, Standing for Office: Time-off Entitlements, can be found at http://www.communities.gov.uk/publications/communities/timeoffconsultation.

It is envisaged that the changes will be implemented in April 2009.

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