How to be an effective “employee representative” as a teacher
2 February 2024
- If you manage a school – have your teachers asked for “employee representative training”?
- If you have you been elected to be an employee representative – are you clear about what the role entails?
- Do you or your employee representatives fully understand their role and the legal framework within which they will operate?
- Have you or any of your employee representatives ever had any specific training on exactly what this role is?
Many independent schools are embarking on a collective consultation process in response to the rising costs of remaining in the Teachers’ Pension Scheme (“TPS”). As part of this, teaching staff are being asked to either volunteer themselves or nominate a colleague to fill the role of “employee representative” (“reps”), often a role for which they have no previous experience. So, what does this important role entail in practical terms? Are your teaching staff confident in distinguishing between their role as reps and that of an employee, colleague, and friend, as well as their rights as a rep? Do they understand the remit in which they can act and how to behave as a rep?
Effective reps play a key role in the consultation process and providing appropriate training will help the process run as smoothly as possible.
Training with Birketts
Birketts specialises in employment law in the education sector and runs a highly successful “employee representative training” programme created specifically for independent schools. Our dedicated trainers are education specialists and strive to provide formal, interactive training – both legal and practical – to ensure that reps understand the nature of their role in practical terms.
The course can be delivered either in person or remotely to suit your needs and preferences. Ideally, the session should be arranged once the reps have been elected and before the first collective consultation meeting, but it can be a helpful tool for both parties later in the process, particularly if there are concerns about effective communication.
Please contact Charlotte Sloan for more information.
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Charlotte Sloan
Sectors
The content of this article is for general information only. It is not, and should not be taken as, legal advice. If you require any further information in relation to this article please contact the author in the first instance. Law covered as at February 2024.