Time off for public duties

First check whether the role qualifies

Employees in specified public roles can take a reasonable amount of time off to perform their duties. The current Great Britain list includes roles such as magistrate, local councillor, school governor and member of certain statutory bodies. It does not create a general right for every voluntary or civic activity.

Use the current GOV.UK eligibility list rather than deciding from the social value of the role. Agency workers and some occupational groups are excluded from this particular right. Other roles, including reserve forces service, can have their own rules.

Reasonable time has no fixed allowance

The employee and employer should agree the time beforehand. Consider the duties, how long they will take, time already taken for public duties and the effect on the business. An employer can refuse a request it reasonably considers excessive, but should discuss timing and alternatives rather than apply an invented annual cap as if it were law.

Statutory time off for public duties does not have to be paid unless the contract or policy says otherwise. Agree pay separately from whether the absence is allowed.

Keep the policy current while the list changes

Record the public role, dates requested, duties involved, decision and pay treatment. Keep the absence separate from annual leave. Apply the same decision factors consistently, while allowing for the practical demands of each role.

The government published a review of the qualifying public duties in June 2026 and has proposed changes to the Great Britain list. Those proposals are not current rights until implemented, so this page needs an early review. Northern Ireland employers should use the separate nidirect list and test.