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Q: Is there an obligation on employers to allow paid time off for reservists to attend annual camp?
A: Reservists are part-time members of the Armed Forces, or ex-members of the Regular Forces with a reserve liability, who are able to boost the capability of regular units during military operations. There are around 40,000 volunteer reservists in the UK and they form some 25% of the nation's total defence capacity.
Reservists are required to undertake training throughout the year and they learn skills, many of which are transferable to the civilian workplace. The average reservist receives training in skills that would cost an employer over £9,000 per year to provide.
The training provided for most reservists takes three forms:
- Weekly training – many reservists attend training at their local centre for about 2½ hours each week during one evening
- Weekend training – all reservists are expected to attend a number of training weekends which are spread out throughout the year
- Continuous training period – once a year, there is a 15-day continuous training period that is sometimes known as ‘Annual Camp.’ This may take the form of a course at a training establishment, an attachment to a regular unit, a training exercise or a combination of these elements. Each year, some reservists train overseas.
Some reservists volunteer for extra training courses and other duties in addition to their annual continuous training period. This training focuses on skills including health and safety, IT and personnel management.
The annual camp is often the one time in the year when the reservist’s unit can train together. The dates are determined as early as possible in order to help reservists arrange time off work.
There is no statutory requirement on employers to provide additional time off for a reservist’s annual continuous training period, either paid or unpaid. Some employers require reservists to take the time from their annual holiday entitlement.
However, in view of the transferable skills that are gained from this training, the Ministry of Defence encourages employers to consider providing extra leave, paid or unpaid, for the continuous training period.
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One Response
2 Salaries for the same day – not bad if you can get it!
I was always led to believe from the tv adverts that reservists get a daily rate of pay equivalent to their full time military colleagues for each day they are in uniform. That would mean getting their company salary and a military salary both at the same time. Now where’s that recruitment office?