The Employment Rights Act 2025 introduces a legal right for union equality representatives to take paid time off to carry out specified duties. Qualification for this right mirrors the existing right for trade union learning representatives to take time off.

Acas has added guidance to the draft code setting out and explaining the new legal requirements for union equality representatives to take time off.  

The updated code seeks to:

  • provide a clear explanation of the law and practical guidance on time off for union equality representatives to carry out relevant duties and training
  • provide a clear explanation of the law and practical guidance on the new requirement for employers, where requested, to provide accommodation and other facilities as is reasonable to enable union representatives, union learning representatives and union equality representatives to carry out their duties
  • update the accessibility of the Code in line with the public sector accessibility regulations
  • maintain the existing explanation of law and guidance on trade union duties and activities, including for union learning representatives.
Our response to Acas’s consultation on the draft code of practice on time off for trade union duties and activities
PDF document 128 KB

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