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What about time off from work?
Under employment law, employers must give employees who are school governors 'reasonable time off' to carry out their duties. The employee and employer have to agree on what is 'reasonable time off'. Among the points they will want to discuss are.
- how much time is needed to carry out a governor's duties;
- whether the employee is also being given time off from work for other activities;
- the particular circumstances of the employer's business and the likely effect that the employee's absence may have on it.
Payment for time off
Employers may give time off with pay, but do not have to do so. This is for discussion between the employee and the employer.
Settling disagreements
If the employee and employer cannot agree on any of these questions, either
of them can ask for help from the Advisory Conciliation and Arbitration Service
(ACAS), which will try to settle any differences informally. An employee who is
still not satisfied may complain to an employment tribunal.
(Taken from ‘Guide to the Law for School Governors')
Please note
Employers have a legal obligation to permit employees who are in the following
categories to have reasonable time off during working hours:
- A Justice of the Peace;
- A member of any statutory tribunal;
- A member of a Regional Health Authority;
- A member of the managing or governing body of an education establishment.
If you are an employee of Wirral Borough Council the Chief Executive is authorised for these purposes to grant employees leave of absence with pay for up to 18 days in any leave year subject to the deduction of any allowance received.
With regard to duties as a member of another local authority, leave of absence with pay for up to 208 hours in any leave year is permitted, in accordance with the provisions of the Local Government and Housing Act 1989, subject to the deduction of any allowance received.