Training permissions: the legal way to enhance your company's talent

This is where training permissions come into play, a legal figure provided for in the Workers' Statute that allows improving the team's skills without generating internal conflicts.

What is the paid leave for vocational training?

Article 23, 3 of the Workers' Statute recognizes the right of employees to enjoy 20 annual hours of paid leave for training, provided that:

• The training is related to the company's activity.

• The worker has at least one year of seniority.

• The leave is intended to improve adaptation, professional development, or internal promotion.

These 20 hours can be accumulated for up to five years, and must be paid as effective working time. It is not an optional benefit, but a labor right that companies must be aware of and manage rationally.

How is this leave managed in practice?

Although the law grants this right to the worker, its application must be compatible with the company's organizational reality. Therefore, the employer may deny the request, but always with reasoned and documented justification.

Valid reasons for denial:

• Serious risks to production or team operation.

• Coincidence with demand peaks or critical periods.

• Negative impact on operations due to the worker's absence.

It is essential that the request be submitted in advance, and that there is transparent communication between both parties. If it is not possible to grant the leave on the requested dates, the ideal is to propose a consensual alternative, always maintaining the purpose of the rule: promoting training and talent development.

Other training rights you should be aware of

In addition to the 20-hour paid leave, labor regulations contemplate other facilities for workers to reconcile their studies with their professional activity:

Leave for taking exams

If the worker is studying official (regulated) courses, he/she is entitled to take the necessary time to sit for exams.

Right to choose shift

If your company operates on a shift system and the worker is studying regularly, he/she may request the adaptation of his/her schedule to attend classes.

Promoting team training is not a burden, but a strategic investment. Knowing the existing legal permissions allows you to promote continuous learning without conflicts and with legal guarantees.