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differences and similarities in HR Practices, policies in Scotland and England

Afua

Hi there,

I am looking forward to relocating to Scotland to pursue my work within HR systems and analytics. Although I am excited about this, I am also nervous as I am unsure of how much change I will face in my new environment with regards to HR policies and practices in Scotland. 

My question is, are there any differences in HR Practices and policies in Scotland and England and if there are, I would be grateful if someone could guide me to relevant links or publications to do some research there.

It will be great to also meet and talk to HR Professionals in various stages of their career who are based in Scotland

Thanks

Afua

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  • 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.
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  • 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.
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