Employers who refuse to allow staff time off for training could be taken to an employment tribunal if draft rules comes into effect warns a Nottingham employment solicitor.

Workers could soon be given the right to request time off work for training under new proposals, which are being considered by the government.

According to Angela Shaw, employment solicitor at Massers, the proposals are likely to operate in a similar way to the right to request flexible working.  "Employers may have to consider requests fairly and can only refuse them for business reasons" she said.

Employers will not have to pay for the training under the proposals which is open to staff who have worked for at least 26 weeks, and employees may only make one request in a 12 month period.

Angela Shaw added:  "If this comes into effect, businesses will need to manage a plethora of issues from request procedures to employment contracts."

If employees are given the right to appeal at an employment tribunal and are successful then businesses will have to bear the cost in compensation.

The new ruling, which was one of a number of measures unveiled in the 2008/9 draft legislative programme, is currently under consultation, which closes on 10th September. It is expected that the draft proposals could be in place by 2010, subject to its passage through Parliament.