Hi Afua

One key difference I'm aware of is that the Scottish Government very actively promotes and support flexible working. This is partly due to the small population and greater dependence on migrant workers that has led to bigger skills shortages; and partly due to the fact that many people outside of the two main cities are located remotely.

You might like to take a look at this website www.familyfriendlyworkingscotland.org.uk/.../

Family Friendly Working Scotland is a collaboration between several charities and the Scottish Government which funds the initiative.

In reply to Anna:

My late GP happened years ago to be a big pal of the consultant gynaecologist at Glasgow Royal Infirmary, who could tell endless stories about how he’d contrived to attend to birth complications in the remotest and most inaccessible locations imaginable - and then some!

In reply to David:

I am sure there are some subtle cultural differences but my guess is no larger than the cultural differences between different employers

Hi Afua

I live and work in Scotland and have lived and worked in England and the two key differences I'd highlight are:

1. Bank Holidays are different (especially at New Year, where most businesses in Scotland close on 1st and 2nd Jan). See www.gov.scot/.../ for more info.
2. Apprenticeship Levy - while companies that are big enough to pay still pay into the UK Treasury, the way the money is spent is through an increase in the block grant to the Scottish Government rather than through employers accessing 'vouchers' the way they're done in England. See www.gov.scot/.../ for more info.

Historically (and this might now have changed) holiday pay used to have to be reported differently in Scotland vs England, in one it had to be rolled up in the hourly rate and in the other it had to be separated out - but that's going back over a decade and as I say may well have changed.

Cheers

Owen

Hi Afua

Contract law is different in Scotland, including employment contracts. The difference is in the elements that must be in place for the contract to exist:

England and Wales: you must be able to show an offer made, offer accepted and consideration
Scotland: a contract can exist without consideration, i.e. from the point at which the two parties reach agreement.

That means that if you are involved in e.g. recruiting NEDs where it would be usual in England and Wales to have an agreement signed as a deed because there is no consideration, the Scots don't have this concept.

Contract law is different because it dates back to the 19th century but for many years now, when employment law has been enacted it has covered all parts of the UK, so for any more modern rights you can safely assume that the same law applies north and south of the border.

Employment Tribunal procedure is slightly different in Scotland but I wouldn't worry about that until you need to.

On the point about bank holidays, you need to find out the practice of the organisation you work for as many Scottish companies do not observe their local bank holidays. Nowadays these are more like the old holiday fortnights you can still come across in some towns in England with an industrial heritage such as the Goose Fair in Nottingham or the Leicester Fortnight.