If you're an official of an independent trade union which is recognised by your employer you must be allowed reasonable time off with pay during working hours to:

• carry out union duties
• consult with your employer, or receive information from your employer, about mass redundancies or business transfers; or
• undergo training for union duties (as approved by the union or by the Trades Union Congress).

If you're a member of such a trade union you're entitled to reasonable time off for certain trade union activities – for example, attending a union conference. Your employer is not obliged to pay you for time off for these activities.

Yes. Union learning representatives are entitled to reasonable paid time off for training, for carrying out their duties; and protection against detriment. Union members are entitled to unpaid time off to consult their learning representative, as long as they belong to a bargaining unit for which the union is recognised. These rights are limited to independent unions in organisations where they are recognised for collective bargaining purposes.

Employees who act as representatives for consultation about redundancies or business transfers, or are candidates to be representatives of this kind, are entitled to reasonable time off with pay during working hours to perform these functions and to receive appropriate training.

For further information see the Employees' information and consultation rights on collective redundancies and transfers of undertakings at the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform (BERR) website. (opens in a new window)

If you are one of the following you're entitled to time off with pay to carry out your functions and to undergo training:

• safety representatives appointed under the Safety Representatives and Safety Committee Regulations 1977 by a trade union recognised by their employer
• representatives of employee safety elected under the Health and Safety (Consultation with Employees) Regulations 1996, to represent employees not covered by the 1977 Regulations; or
• safety representatives elected under the Offshore Installations (Safety Representatives and Safety Committee) Regulations 1989

For further information see Consulting employees on health and safety: A guide to the law at the HSE website. (opens in a new window)

The following booklets are available from HSE Books (tel: 01787 881165) and other booksellers:

• Safety representatives and safety committees (contains the 1977 Regulations and a supporting code of practice and guidance)
• A guide to the Health and Safety (Consultation with Employees) Regulations 1996
• A guide to the Offshore Installations (Safety Representatives and Safety Committees) Regulations 1989

An employee who is an official of an independent trade union which is recognised by you must be allowed reasonable time off with pay during working hours to:

• carry out union duties
• consult with the employer, or receive information from the employer, about mass redundancies or business transfers; or
• undergo training for union duties (as approved by the union or by the Trades Union Congress).

An employee who is a member of such a trade union is also entitled to reasonable time off for certain trade union activities – for example, attending a union conference. You are not obliged to pay the employee for time off for these activities.

Yes. Union learning representatives are entitled to reasonable paid time off for training, for carrying out their duties; and protection against detriment. Union members are entitled to unpaid time off to consult their learning representative, as long as they belong to a bargaining unit for which the union is recognised. These rights are limited to independent unions in organisations where they are recognised for collective bargaining purposes.

Employees who act as representatives for consultation about redundancies or business transfers, or are candidates to be representatives of this kind, are entitled to reasonable time off with pay during working hours to perform these functions and to receive appropriate training.

For further information see the Employees' information and consultation rights on collective redundancies and transfers of undertakings at the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform (BERR) website. (opens in a new window)

Employees who are one of the following are entitled to time off with pay to carry out their functions and to undergo training:

• safety representatives appointed under the Safety Representatives and Safety Committee Regulations 1977 by a trade union recognised by their employer
• representatives of employee safety elected under the Health and Safety (Consultation with Employees) Regulations 1996, to represent employees not covered by the 1977 Regulations
• safety representatives elected under the Offshore Installations (Safety Representatives and Safety Committee) Regulations 1989

For further information see Consulting employees on health and safety: A guide to the law at the HSE website. (opens in a new window)

The following booklets are available from HSE Books (tel: 01787 881165) and other booksellers:

• Safety representatives and safety committees (contains the 1977 Regulations and a supporting code of practice and guidance)
• A guide to the Health and Safety (Consultation with Employees) Regulations 1996
• A guide to the Offshore Installations (Safety Representatives and Safety Committees) Regulations 1989