Home > News > June 2005 > 07-Jun-2005

Time for a ‘work-learn’ balance, says TUC

According to a new poll published by the TUC yesterday, there is huge pent-up demand for learning new skills among the British workforce, but a range of obstacles - topped by overwork and stress - prevent many employees from taking up training.

The poll asked a sample of people at work whether they wanted more training, what had put them off taking up training and what would help them in the future.

According to the TUC, the top two reasons for not taking up training suggests that the UK needs a new ‘work-learn’ balance. Twenty-nine per cent of respondents said that they don’t have time because they have to look after children or have other caring responsibilities. The same proportion (29%) said that their current job has such long hours or is so stressful that they do not have the time or energy to take up a course.

The poll found that women (42%) were more than twice as likely as men (18%) to say they have caring responsibilities that stop them taking up training. Twenty-nine per cent of women said help with childcare would encourage them to take up training (only 16% of men cited this); while 33% of women, compared to 22% of men, said that more support from a spouse or partner would help.

The TUC say that both men and women agreed on a range of other issues that could help boost training. Seventy-seven per cent backed paid time off from work, 32% would take time off even if it meant losing pay, and 42% said less overtime (paid or unpaid) would help them take up more training.

According to the poll, there was considerable satisfaction with the amount of training employees got at work although these views vary across the age range. The older the worker the more satisfied he/she is with the training they get (81 per cent of 55-64 year olds are satisfied compared to 73% of 16-24 year olds).

Nevertheless, 52% of employees would like their employer to train them in new skills that would help them get promoted or secure a better job.

The poll was published to coincide with the launch of a new film called ‘Love learning’, which promotes the work of union learning reps. Sixty per cent of the survey respondents say that 'help and advice from a colleague at work with special knowledge' would help them learn new skills at work. The TUC says this is a big vote of confidence in the 8,000 plus active union learning reps already fulfilling this function in workplaces across the UK.

The film features case studies from individuals around the country speaking about how they struggled with reading, writing and IT before doing courses at work, suggested by the union learning rep.

TUC General Secretary Brendan Barber said: "Britain’s skills gap can be closed. This survey shows huge demand for work related learning, and a real hunger to get on at work. But the biggest barrier to learning is the overwork and long hours culture of too many UK workplaces. We have always said that long hours working hinders productivity. Now we know it stops people getting the new skills that can make workplaces more efficient.

"The survey gives a massive vote of confidence to union learning reps and strengthens the argument for paid time off for employees to study, with three-quarters of workers saying this would give them the boost they need to train.

"‘Love learning’ further emphasises the crucial role union learning reps play in helping thousands of people learn new skills. The powerful and moving accounts in the film highlight the fear people have about confronting their demons, and show the real difference learning has made to both their professional and personal lives."

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