Labour Research March 2018

Law Queries

Part-timers and training

Q. Can an employer oblige a part-time employee to carry out training on their day off?

A. No, an employer should not do this. The only exception is if it has been agreed under the contract of employment that a part-time employee will attend training on these days.

If the employee is contractually obliged to attend the training, the employee should receive either additional wages for the extra time attending at work or time off in lieu. 


It’s also important that the employee is given adequate notice so that they can make appropriate arrangements (for example, childcare) in order to attend the training.


Of course, the part-time employee may wish to attend the training, in which case they could agree to do this subject to the above conditions. Should they refuse, they should not be subject to any repercussions by the employer.