Scotland
The Scottish Government has pledged £10 million to help private companies pilot a 4 day work week.
4 Day Work Week in Scotland
In September 2023, the Scottish Government announced plans to test a four-day workweek for specific public sector employees.
This initiative will test a shorter working week at 100% salary and will pilot the scheme for a year. After the 12 months, results of the experiment will be analysed before any potential broader implementation.
Advisers hope that if the public sector's four-day workweek proves successful, it might encourage the private sector to adopt it for enhanced productivity and better work-life balance.
Earlier in 2021, the Scottish government revealed plans to donate 10 million pounds towards helping companies take part in a 4 day work week pilot program.
Working Hours in Scotland
Many workers in Scotland enjoy flexible working hours through agreements with their employers. Although a typical working week in Scotland is between 37 and 40 hours, the amount of time worked varies by industry and job type.
In Scotland, employers are not required to compensate employees for overtime work, although they may choose to do so. By law, employers must ensure that an employee’s total compensation for hours worked does not fall beneath the minimum wage.
Vacation Policy in Scotland
Employees in Scotland enjoy a generous amount of vacation days each year. The total number of vacation days an employee receives depends on the number of days an employee works per week. Employees who work a regular, 5 day work week receive a minimum of 28 days of vacation time per year. However, employers can choose to provide employees with additional vacation time if they wish.
In addition to paid vacation days, most employees also enjoy around 9 public holidays each year. Employers are not required by law to pay employees for public holidays, but it is a common practice to do so.
Part Time Working in Scotland
As of 2019, part time workers comprised 26.5% of Scotland’s total workforce. 41.2% of Scotland’s total female workers worked part time, while part time work only accounted for 12.4% of all male employment.
Part time workers enjoy numerous benefits in Scotland, including paid time off. A part time employee’s paid vacation days can be calculated by multiplying the number of days per week they’ve worked by 5.6. That means if you work 3 days per week, you’re entitled to 16.8 vacation days.
Remote Working in Scotland
Many employers in Scotland are supportive of remote work. In a recent survey, 33% of Scottish employers were interested in hiring remote staff, valuing skills over physical location of their employees. According to the survey, Scotland is looking to hire remote staff at a higher rate than the rest of the UK.
In the UK, Scotland and Wales are considered the countries with the most remote work opportunities.