Q: Can an employee take time off to be a school governor?

A: Yes. An employer is obliged to permit employees who are school governors to time off but there is no statutory right to remuneration for time off work in these circumstances.

In deciding when and how much time is to be taken off and what is reasonable in the circumstances, the employer should consider: how much time off is required for the governor duties; how much time off has already been permitted; and the circumstances of its business and the effect of the employee’s absence on the running of the business.