The Charity Trustees (Time Off for Duties) Bill 2017-2019 was introduced to parliament in March.
This bill will allow charity trustees to take reasonable time off from their jobs to carry out the duties required of being a charity trustee.
Under the existing law, trustees are not listed among professions that are entitled to reasonable time off to perform their role. So this bill will allow them the same rights as school governors, local councillors, magistrates, members of health authorities and trade union officers.
Labour MP, Susan Elan Jones said the bill would help show value to existing trustees by giving them an “improved status in law, but might also encourage a more diverse range of people to join charity boards.”
The time off must be agreed between the employer and the employee. This means that the date the time is taken and the duration must be reasonable in order to have as little effect on the business as possible. Any time off would also be unpaid, unless the employer agrees otherwise.
The change in the law will give employees who are also trustees more confidence when approaching their employer with a request to take time off to carry out their duties.
However, it is important to be aware that this new law change will not apply to charity trustees who are police officers, member of the armed forces, agency workers, merchant seamen or those working at sea on a fishing vessel, or on a gas or oil rig.
More from our charity experts
You can find all of our latest charity sector news and newsletters here.
If you are looking for advice in a particular area, please get in touch with your usual Hawsons contact.
Alternatively, we offer all new clients a free initial meeting to have a discussion about their own personal circumstances – find out more or book your free initial meeting here. We have offices in Sheffield, Doncaster and Northampton.