From 6 April, employees will have a new legal right: to request time off work to undertake study or training.

Known as 'time to train', this right applies to you if you work for an organisation with 250 or more employees, but not if you are an agency worker. You must have worked for your employer for at least 26 weeks before you apply.

From 6 April 2011 the right will apply to all employees working in organisations of all sizes, regardless of how many employees there are.

Like flexible working, this is a right only to ask, not to get, so is quite weak. To maximise your chances of getting the time off you want, make sure you are a member of RMT, and ask your rep to support you through the process.

For more details of 'time to train', click here