These questions are being answered by Learn HR, a market leader in the provision of HR and payroll training and nationally-recognised professional qualifications.
Q: “One of our employees has enrolled for the Open University and has asked if she can have time off to attend summer schools, which will be part of her course. Are we compelled to allow this? And what if anything should we pay?”
A: There is no legal obligation upon you to accede to this request. However you may first wish to commend the enterprise of an employee who wishes to improve her lot by studying in her own time. If she makes good progress, then you may have the makings of a good go-ahead manager and wish to do all that you can to encourage and keep her. Secondly consider whether the subjects being studied might be of value to your organisation. On that basis many employers give all or part of the time required for summer school as additional holiday and many pay for all or part of it. If you do decide to act generously you can make it conditional upon satisfactory progress being made.
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