Who pays for statutory and mandatory training?
Many people get in touch with us to ask various questions about statutory and mandatory training. One of the most common questions is ‘Who pays for statutory and mandatory training?’. Most health and social care workers expect to get paid for mandatory training. However, it’s not always the case.
In this article, Dr Richard Dune addresses the issue of payments for attending statutory and mandatory training.
Guidance for all employers
It is expected that all employees must complete statutory and mandatory training relevant to their specific job roles. The employer decides which training courses must be delivered, when and how.
Whether employees get paid or not for attending mandatory and statutory training courses depends on their contract. For all employees who started working for their employer after 6 April 2020, employers must give them written terms (contract) that specify the training they must complete. They should also specify which training courses the employer does not pay for.
All employees must refer to their employment contract to know which courses they are expected to do and whether or not their employer pays for the training.
Employees earning more than the national minimum wage
For employees who earn more than the national minimum wage, your pay might already cover the time spent doing statutory and mandatory training.
Where training is not included in the normal working hours, employees must check their employment contract to establish whether they will be paid for the time spent on training. If unsure, staff members should talk to their employer or line manager.
Employees earning less than the national minimum wage
For employees earning less than the national minimum wage or close to it, the employer must pay for the time spent attending statutory and mandatory training. The reason for this guidance is that the pay received compared to the hours worked in the pay reference period might bring the worker below the national minimum wage.
All employees must familiarise themselves with the guidance on national minimum wage entitlement.
Statutory and mandatory training for agency and bank workers
To ensure that they work safely and effectively, agency and locum workers must undertake similar mandatory and statutory training as that completed by permanent staff. The same also applies to temporary and bank workers. In most cases, temporary staffing agencies provide pay for mandatory and statutory training for agency workers. However, agency workers are usually expected to self-fund any further career development.
The temporary work agency contract should specify whether the agency will pay for statutory and mandatory training. However, agency and bank workers do not have the statutory right to request time off under the government's guidance or paid time off to study.
Conclusion
The employer must pay for statutory and mandatory training courses relevant to the employee's job. However, whether or not they get paid during that time will depend on their employment contract.
Overall, all employers must ensure their employees are up-to-date with relevant training to fully equip them with the knowledge and skills to do their roles and responsibilities effectively.
Click here to see online courses and resources that will help you plan for your organisation’s statutory and mandatory training.
Related blog articles
Click on the links below to read more articles from our team:
Related blog articles
Click on the links below to read more articles from our team:
References and resources
Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service (2023) - Agency workers.
Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service (2023) - Checking your employment rights.
Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service (2023) - Employment contracts and the law.
Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service (2023) - National Minimum Wage entitlement.
Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service (2023) - What must be written in an employment contract.
HM Government (2023) - Training and study at work: your rights.
NHS Professionals (2023) - Do I get paid for completing my mandatory training?
References and resources
Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service (2023) - Agency workers.
Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service (2023) - Checking your employment rights.
Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service (2023) - Employment contracts and the law.
Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service (2023) - National Minimum Wage entitlement.
Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service (2023) - What must be written in an employment contract.
HM Government (2023) - Training and study at work: your rights.
NHS Professionals (2023) - Do I get paid for completing my mandatory training?
About the Mandatory Training Group
The Mandatory Training Group is one of the leading UK providers of CPDUK-accredited statutory and mandatory training, continuing professional development (CPD) courses, eLearning software and workforce development solutions for all sectors.
By making things simple and designing interactive e-learning content, we can provide meaningful training programs at all levels and enhance the capacity and resilience of individuals and organisations.
Click here to see our wide range of accredited statutory and mandatory training courcses and training programmes.
About the Mandatory Training Group
The Mandatory Training Group is one of the leading UK providers of CPDUK-accredited statutory and mandatory training, continuing professional development (CPD) courses, eLearning software and workforce development solutions for all sectors.
By making things simple and designing interactive e-learning content, we can provide meaningful training programs at all levels and enhance the capacity and resilience of individuals and organisations.
Click here to see our wide range of accredited statutory and mandatory training courcses and training programmes.
About Dr Richard Dune
Dr Richard Dune is a leading health and social care governance expert. Throughout his career, he has worked in various settings across the UK, including NHS Trusts, research and development, academic institutions, and private companies.
His work primarily focuses on developing, deploying and evaluating technologies, such as clinical decision support systems, educational technologies, workforce development and regulatory compliance solutions.
Dr Dune regularly writes about topical issues affecting the UK's health and social care sectors. Additionally, he speaks at conferences, stakeholder workshops, and professional forums. Dr Dune is also a research fellow at University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire in the Research, Development and Innovation department. His other passions include content development, education, and coaching. Click here to read more articles by Dr Dune.
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