Last week I asked the following question on Twitter: –

I was interested to see the responses as I wanted to know how more experienced presenters get the time off to speak at so many events. Up until now I’ve been using annual leave and this was a way of gauging what was the general standard out there.

Well, the results showed that there is no general standard.

I had a lot of responses saying that companies would give time off and pay for travel expenses as it was viewed as training but then there were others that said the complete opposite (and everything in-between).

Btw, I’m discounting the consultants that replied. You run your own companies!

My personal opinion is that attending conferences, even as a speaker, is training. I always go to other sessions when I’ve been speaking at events, I’m not going to stay up in the speaker room all day when there are great sessions going on!

However, I can also see the company side of things, especially if there was no formal agreement in the employment contract. You are out of the office after all, and for a least part of the time, unable to work remotely (if say, needed on call).

So, I would offer having a set amount of days that I can use to attend conferences with also the option of working around hours that I’m off (if needed). That way the company gets the work they need from me and I can attend the events that I wish to.

What does your company offer?