Right to request training ‘will be exercised by half of employees’

More than half of all UK employees intend to exercise their right to request time of for training if new measures being considered by the government are introduced.

According to a YouGov survey commissioned by the Trades Union Congress (TUC), 71 per cent of workers would like to see the right implemented.

Furthermore, 53 per cent of those questioned said they would use it if it became law.

The research shows that employees aged 18 to 24 would be most likely to ask for paid time off to undergo work-related training if they had the legal right to do so.

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Brendan Barber, general secretary of the TUC, said the poll shows that there is a "great zeal" among UK workers to acquire new skills.

"The government must ensure that any new right to request training is strong enough to make a genuine difference," he remarked.

A consultation has been launched to examine how the new right – which was first proposed in May – would work in practice.