Does language lessons paid by company count as work time? [on hold]

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I work in Europe and my company offers us a 2 hours long English lesson with native speaker once a week. They take place during normal working hours (afternoon), but they are voluntary. I'd gladly participate, but I don't have time to spend 2 extra hours on it, so I'd really want to know if such things count usually as work time.

Note: My work hours are flexible, so I know I don't have to be at work during specific hours, instead I need to work X hours during whole week.

work-time

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edited 8 hours ago

asked 8 hours ago

throwaway123

111

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throwaway123 is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.

put on hold as off-topic by gnat, Erik, YElm, Twyxz, Mister Positive 4 hours ago

This question appears to be off-topic. The users who voted to close gave this specific reason:

• "Questions seeking advice on company-specific regulations, agreements, or policies should be directed to your manager or HR department. Questions that address only a specific company or position are of limited use to future visitors. Questions seeking legal advice should be directed to legal professionals. For more information, click here." – gnat, Erik, YElm, Twyxz, Mister Positive

If this question can be reworded to fit the rules in the help center, please edit the question.

• 
  
  
  

  
  11
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  When I lived in The Netherlands the Dutch class was considered working time but you have a very simple solution: ask your employer...
  – Adriano Repetti
  8 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  You need to specify your country, europe is not enough to infer about the work law applicable to you. Also it may depend of your type of contract (hourly or daily), if you clock in/out, ...
  – Jason Marechal
  8 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  @JasonMarechal I work in Czech republic... and my salary is monthly, for 20 hours a week (part-timer)
  – throwaway123
  7 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  Is English a requirement of the job? This may make a difference - if it's training that's required for you to be able to do your job, then it's more likely to be considered part of your working hours than if it's just a perk of the job.
  – delinear
  7 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  @delinear it's IT, so yeah, we use English more than our native language here.. most of our communications. documentations etc are in English
  – throwaway123
  7 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  

 | 
show 1 more comment

up vote
-2
down vote

favorite

I work in Europe and my company offers us a 2 hours long English lesson with native speaker once a week. They take place during normal working hours (afternoon), but they are voluntary. I'd gladly participate, but I don't have time to spend 2 extra hours on it, so I'd really want to know if such things count usually as work time.

Note: My work hours are flexible, so I know I don't have to be at work during specific hours, instead I need to work X hours during whole week.

work-time

share|improve this question

edited 8 hours ago

asked 8 hours ago

throwaway123

111

New contributor

throwaway123 is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.

put on hold as off-topic by gnat, Erik, YElm, Twyxz, Mister Positive 4 hours ago

This question appears to be off-topic. The users who voted to close gave this specific reason:

• "Questions seeking advice on company-specific regulations, agreements, or policies should be directed to your manager or HR department. Questions that address only a specific company or position are of limited use to future visitors. Questions seeking legal advice should be directed to legal professionals. For more information, click here." – gnat, Erik, YElm, Twyxz, Mister Positive

If this question can be reworded to fit the rules in the help center, please edit the question.

• 
  
  
  

  
  11
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  When I lived in The Netherlands the Dutch class was considered working time but you have a very simple solution: ask your employer...
  – Adriano Repetti
  8 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  You need to specify your country, europe is not enough to infer about the work law applicable to you. Also it may depend of your type of contract (hourly or daily), if you clock in/out, ...
  – Jason Marechal
  8 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  @JasonMarechal I work in Czech republic... and my salary is monthly, for 20 hours a week (part-timer)
  – throwaway123
  7 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  Is English a requirement of the job? This may make a difference - if it's training that's required for you to be able to do your job, then it's more likely to be considered part of your working hours than if it's just a perk of the job.
  – delinear
  7 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  @delinear it's IT, so yeah, we use English more than our native language here.. most of our communications. documentations etc are in English
  – throwaway123
  7 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  

 | 
show 1 more comment

up vote
-2
down vote

favorite

up vote
-2
down vote

favorite

I work in Europe and my company offers us a 2 hours long English lesson with native speaker once a week. They take place during normal working hours (afternoon), but they are voluntary. I'd gladly participate, but I don't have time to spend 2 extra hours on it, so I'd really want to know if such things count usually as work time.

Note: My work hours are flexible, so I know I don't have to be at work during specific hours, instead I need to work X hours during whole week.

work-time

share|improve this question

edited 8 hours ago

asked 8 hours ago

throwaway123

111

New contributor

throwaway123 is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.

I work in Europe and my company offers us a 2 hours long English lesson with native speaker once a week. They take place during normal working hours (afternoon), but they are voluntary. I'd gladly participate, but I don't have time to spend 2 extra hours on it, so I'd really want to know if such things count usually as work time.

Note: My work hours are flexible, so I know I don't have to be at work during specific hours, instead I need to work X hours during whole week.

work-time

work-time

share|improve this question

edited 8 hours ago

asked 8 hours ago

throwaway123

111

New contributor

throwaway123 is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.

share|improve this question

edited 8 hours ago

asked 8 hours ago

throwaway123

111

New contributor

throwaway123 is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.

share|improve this question

share|improve this question

edited 8 hours ago

edited 8 hours ago

edited 8 hours ago

asked 8 hours ago

throwaway123

111

New contributor

throwaway123 is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.

asked 8 hours ago

throwaway123

111

asked 8 hours ago

throwaway123

111

111

New contributor

throwaway123 is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.

New contributor

throwaway123 is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.

throwaway123 is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.

put on hold as off-topic by gnat, Erik, YElm, Twyxz, Mister Positive 4 hours ago

This question appears to be off-topic. The users who voted to close gave this specific reason:

• "Questions seeking advice on company-specific regulations, agreements, or policies should be directed to your manager or HR department. Questions that address only a specific company or position are of limited use to future visitors. Questions seeking legal advice should be directed to legal professionals. For more information, click here." – gnat, Erik, YElm, Twyxz, Mister Positive

If this question can be reworded to fit the rules in the help center, please edit the question.

put on hold as off-topic by gnat, Erik, YElm, Twyxz, Mister Positive 4 hours ago

This question appears to be off-topic. The users who voted to close gave this specific reason:

• "Questions seeking advice on company-specific regulations, agreements, or policies should be directed to your manager or HR department. Questions that address only a specific company or position are of limited use to future visitors. Questions seeking legal advice should be directed to legal professionals. For more information, click here." – gnat, Erik, YElm, Twyxz, Mister Positive

If this question can be reworded to fit the rules in the help center, please edit the question.

• 
  
  
  

  
  11
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  When I lived in The Netherlands the Dutch class was considered working time but you have a very simple solution: ask your employer...
  – Adriano Repetti
  8 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  You need to specify your country, europe is not enough to infer about the work law applicable to you. Also it may depend of your type of contract (hourly or daily), if you clock in/out, ...
  – Jason Marechal
  8 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  @JasonMarechal I work in Czech republic... and my salary is monthly, for 20 hours a week (part-timer)
  – throwaway123
  7 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  Is English a requirement of the job? This may make a difference - if it's training that's required for you to be able to do your job, then it's more likely to be considered part of your working hours than if it's just a perk of the job.
  – delinear
  7 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  @delinear it's IT, so yeah, we use English more than our native language here.. most of our communications. documentations etc are in English
  – throwaway123
  7 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  

 | 
show 1 more comment

• 
  
  
  

  
  11
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  When I lived in The Netherlands the Dutch class was considered working time but you have a very simple solution: ask your employer...
  – Adriano Repetti
  8 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  You need to specify your country, europe is not enough to infer about the work law applicable to you. Also it may depend of your type of contract (hourly or daily), if you clock in/out, ...
  – Jason Marechal
  8 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  @JasonMarechal I work in Czech republic... and my salary is monthly, for 20 hours a week (part-timer)
  – throwaway123
  7 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  Is English a requirement of the job? This may make a difference - if it's training that's required for you to be able to do your job, then it's more likely to be considered part of your working hours than if it's just a perk of the job.
  – delinear
  7 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  @delinear it's IT, so yeah, we use English more than our native language here.. most of our communications. documentations etc are in English
  – throwaway123
  7 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  

11

11

When I lived in The Netherlands the Dutch class was considered working time but you have a very simple solution: ask your employer...
– Adriano Repetti
8 hours ago

When I lived in The Netherlands the Dutch class was considered working time but you have a very simple solution: ask your employer...
– Adriano Repetti
8 hours ago

You need to specify your country, europe is not enough to infer about the work law applicable to you. Also it may depend of your type of contract (hourly or daily), if you clock in/out, ...
– Jason Marechal
8 hours ago

You need to specify your country, europe is not enough to infer about the work law applicable to you. Also it may depend of your type of contract (hourly or daily), if you clock in/out, ...
– Jason Marechal
8 hours ago

@JasonMarechal I work in Czech republic... and my salary is monthly, for 20 hours a week (part-timer)
– throwaway123
7 hours ago

@JasonMarechal I work in Czech republic... and my salary is monthly, for 20 hours a week (part-timer)
– throwaway123
7 hours ago

Is English a requirement of the job? This may make a difference - if it's training that's required for you to be able to do your job, then it's more likely to be considered part of your working hours than if it's just a perk of the job.
– delinear
7 hours ago

Is English a requirement of the job? This may make a difference - if it's training that's required for you to be able to do your job, then it's more likely to be considered part of your working hours than if it's just a perk of the job.
– delinear
7 hours ago

@delinear it's IT, so yeah, we use English more than our native language here.. most of our communications. documentations etc are in English
– throwaway123
7 hours ago

@delinear it's IT, so yeah, we use English more than our native language here.. most of our communications. documentations etc are in English
– throwaway123
7 hours ago

 | 
show 1 more comment

2 Answers
2

active

oldest

votes

up vote
5
down vote

Your best bet is to talk to your manager. We can only speculate. It largely depends on the company. The company I work for allows us an hour a week for educational purposes (that are appropriate for the business). Other companies I have worked for was not so generous.

share|improve this answer

answered 6 hours ago

Ed Heal

8,39421540

add a comment | 

up vote
-3
down vote

I think that these hours don't count as working time except you have made another agreement!!! Based on my experience in Germany I used to work as a metallworker for a bit of time and the boss gave me (and other co-workers too) the opportunity to learn the German language for free with a native speaker as your situation.

But

• We attended the lesson in hours that we didn't work!


• And we didn't get paid for these hours!

share|improve this answer

edited 8 hours ago

SomeWindowsUser

1033

answered 8 hours ago

LePanz

234

• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  this is anectodical. I also took german lessons in Germany and they were within the working schedule and paid
  – viorel
  7 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  @viorel wow ok !!! That's your situation as i see.... Is there any official statement that ensures that i should be counted as working hours and must be paid?
  – LePanz
  7 hours ago
  
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  @LePanz If your manager says something like "you can join this voluntary training at this time and it counts as working time under project EDU" then that would be a good enough statement for me. However in the situation you describe it sounds different from on-the-job training, so there is probably not any kind of requirement that an employer pay you for such training.
  – Brandin
  5 hours ago
  
  

  
  
  
  

add a comment | 

2 Answers
2

active

oldest

votes

2 Answers
2

active

oldest

votes

active

oldest

votes

active

oldest

votes

up vote
5
down vote

Your best bet is to talk to your manager. We can only speculate. It largely depends on the company. The company I work for allows us an hour a week for educational purposes (that are appropriate for the business). Other companies I have worked for was not so generous.

share|improve this answer

answered 6 hours ago

Ed Heal

8,39421540

add a comment | 

up vote
5
down vote

Your best bet is to talk to your manager. We can only speculate. It largely depends on the company. The company I work for allows us an hour a week for educational purposes (that are appropriate for the business). Other companies I have worked for was not so generous.

share|improve this answer

answered 6 hours ago

Ed Heal

8,39421540

add a comment | 

up vote
5
down vote

up vote
5
down vote

Your best bet is to talk to your manager. We can only speculate. It largely depends on the company. The company I work for allows us an hour a week for educational purposes (that are appropriate for the business). Other companies I have worked for was not so generous.

share|improve this answer

answered 6 hours ago

Ed Heal

8,39421540

Your best bet is to talk to your manager. We can only speculate. It largely depends on the company. The company I work for allows us an hour a week for educational purposes (that are appropriate for the business). Other companies I have worked for was not so generous.

share|improve this answer

answered 6 hours ago

Ed Heal

8,39421540

share|improve this answer

share|improve this answer

answered 6 hours ago

Ed Heal

8,39421540

answered 6 hours ago

Ed Heal

8,39421540

answered 6 hours ago

Ed Heal

8,39421540

8,39421540

add a comment | 

add a comment | 

up vote
-3
down vote

I think that these hours don't count as working time except you have made another agreement!!! Based on my experience in Germany I used to work as a metallworker for a bit of time and the boss gave me (and other co-workers too) the opportunity to learn the German language for free with a native speaker as your situation.

But

• We attended the lesson in hours that we didn't work!


• And we didn't get paid for these hours!

share|improve this answer

edited 8 hours ago

SomeWindowsUser

1033

answered 8 hours ago

LePanz

234

• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  this is anectodical. I also took german lessons in Germany and they were within the working schedule and paid
  – viorel
  7 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  @viorel wow ok !!! That's your situation as i see.... Is there any official statement that ensures that i should be counted as working hours and must be paid?
  – LePanz
  7 hours ago
  
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  @LePanz If your manager says something like "you can join this voluntary training at this time and it counts as working time under project EDU" then that would be a good enough statement for me. However in the situation you describe it sounds different from on-the-job training, so there is probably not any kind of requirement that an employer pay you for such training.
  – Brandin
  5 hours ago
  
  

  
  
  
  

add a comment | 

up vote
-3
down vote

I think that these hours don't count as working time except you have made another agreement!!! Based on my experience in Germany I used to work as a metallworker for a bit of time and the boss gave me (and other co-workers too) the opportunity to learn the German language for free with a native speaker as your situation.

But

• We attended the lesson in hours that we didn't work!


• And we didn't get paid for these hours!

share|improve this answer

edited 8 hours ago

SomeWindowsUser

1033

answered 8 hours ago

LePanz

234

• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  this is anectodical. I also took german lessons in Germany and they were within the working schedule and paid
  – viorel
  7 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  @viorel wow ok !!! That's your situation as i see.... Is there any official statement that ensures that i should be counted as working hours and must be paid?
  – LePanz
  7 hours ago
  
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  @LePanz If your manager says something like "you can join this voluntary training at this time and it counts as working time under project EDU" then that would be a good enough statement for me. However in the situation you describe it sounds different from on-the-job training, so there is probably not any kind of requirement that an employer pay you for such training.
  – Brandin
  5 hours ago
  
  

  
  
  
  

add a comment | 

up vote
-3
down vote

up vote
-3
down vote

I think that these hours don't count as working time except you have made another agreement!!! Based on my experience in Germany I used to work as a metallworker for a bit of time and the boss gave me (and other co-workers too) the opportunity to learn the German language for free with a native speaker as your situation.

But

• We attended the lesson in hours that we didn't work!


• And we didn't get paid for these hours!

share|improve this answer

edited 8 hours ago

SomeWindowsUser

1033

answered 8 hours ago

LePanz

234

I think that these hours don't count as working time except you have made another agreement!!! Based on my experience in Germany I used to work as a metallworker for a bit of time and the boss gave me (and other co-workers too) the opportunity to learn the German language for free with a native speaker as your situation.

But

• We attended the lesson in hours that we didn't work!


• And we didn't get paid for these hours!

share|improve this answer

edited 8 hours ago

SomeWindowsUser

1033

answered 8 hours ago

LePanz

234

share|improve this answer

share|improve this answer

edited 8 hours ago

SomeWindowsUser

1033

edited 8 hours ago

SomeWindowsUser

1033

edited 8 hours ago

SomeWindowsUser

1033

1033

answered 8 hours ago

LePanz

234

answered 8 hours ago

LePanz

234

answered 8 hours ago

LePanz

234

234

• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  this is anectodical. I also took german lessons in Germany and they were within the working schedule and paid
  – viorel
  7 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  @viorel wow ok !!! That's your situation as i see.... Is there any official statement that ensures that i should be counted as working hours and must be paid?
  – LePanz
  7 hours ago
  
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  @LePanz If your manager says something like "you can join this voluntary training at this time and it counts as working time under project EDU" then that would be a good enough statement for me. However in the situation you describe it sounds different from on-the-job training, so there is probably not any kind of requirement that an employer pay you for such training.
  – Brandin
  5 hours ago
  
  

  
  
  
  

add a comment | 

• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  this is anectodical. I also took german lessons in Germany and they were within the working schedule and paid
  – viorel
  7 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  @viorel wow ok !!! That's your situation as i see.... Is there any official statement that ensures that i should be counted as working hours and must be paid?
  – LePanz
  7 hours ago
  
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  @LePanz If your manager says something like "you can join this voluntary training at this time and it counts as working time under project EDU" then that would be a good enough statement for me. However in the situation you describe it sounds different from on-the-job training, so there is probably not any kind of requirement that an employer pay you for such training.
  – Brandin
  5 hours ago
  
  

  
  
  
  

this is anectodical. I also took german lessons in Germany and they were within the working schedule and paid
– viorel
7 hours ago

this is anectodical. I also took german lessons in Germany and they were within the working schedule and paid
– viorel
7 hours ago

@viorel wow ok !!! That's your situation as i see.... Is there any official statement that ensures that i should be counted as working hours and must be paid?
– LePanz
7 hours ago

@viorel wow ok !!! That's your situation as i see.... Is there any official statement that ensures that i should be counted as working hours and must be paid?
– LePanz
7 hours ago

@LePanz If your manager says something like "you can join this voluntary training at this time and it counts as working time under project EDU" then that would be a good enough statement for me. However in the situation you describe it sounds different from on-the-job training, so there is probably not any kind of requirement that an employer pay you for such training.
– Brandin
5 hours ago

@LePanz If your manager says something like "you can join this voluntary training at this time and it counts as working time under project EDU" then that would be a good enough statement for me. However in the situation you describe it sounds different from on-the-job training, so there is probably not any kind of requirement that an employer pay you for such training.
– Brandin
5 hours ago

add a comment |