Workplace rights and benefits

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Your rights at work

When you work in Scotland, you have rights at work including:  

• Working hours and rest breaks   
• Time off work   
• Sick pay   
• Holidays and holiday pay   
• Maternity and parental rights   

Find out about your rights at work (citizensadvice.org.uk)

Holidays and public holidays

You get holidays each year based on the number of days you work. Holiday time is also known as ‘annual leave’.  

Many workplaces also close for public and bank holidays. You might get paid leave on public and bank holidays. 

There are nine public and bank holidays in Scotland each year. They are normally on a Monday.  

Find out about holidays and holiday pay (citizensadvice.org.uk)

Check Scottish bank holiday dates (gov.scot)

Sick pay

If you can’t work because you’re ill, you'll get sick pay. You’re entitled to Statutory Sick Pay from your employer. Statutory Sick Pay is usually paid out if you’re sick for more than four days in a row, but less than 28 weeks. 

Your employer may also have their own sick pay scheme, and you should check directly with them.

Find out more about Statutory Sick Pay (gov.uk)

Maternity pay

If you’re pregnant, you may be eligible for maternity pay from your employer. Statutory Maternity Pay (SMP) allows you to take time off before and after your baby is born.

SMP is paid for up to 39 weeks from when you take leave from your job. You and your employer may agree other terms, but this is not required by law.

Your partner is also entitled to up to two weeks of paternity leave – in addition to another 26 weeks if you decide to return to work early.

Find out more about maternity pay and leave (gov.uk)

Other benefits

Most employers in Scotland will have a benefits package that will include a range of different things, from dental care to private health insurance. These packages are different for each company. It is best to check directly with them. 

Salary deductions

If you work in Scotland and earn over a certain amount you’ll pay tax from your earnings. This is for the public services provided by the government, like healthcare and pensions.  

Normally, your employer takes away income tax and national insurance from your salary.

The amount of income tax you pay depends on how much you earn.    

Read about income tax rates and personal allowances (mygov.scot)  

Find out how income tax works (moneyhelper.org.uk) 

Find out how national insurance works (moneyhelper.org.uk)

Pensions

Most people who work in Scotland get a state pension from the government. This is a weekly payment which is paid when you reach state pension age. Your state pension age normally depends on when you were born.

Check your state pension age (gov.uk)

The amount of State Pension you get depends on 

• How long you’ve worked  
• How much national insurance you’ve paid

Employers in Scotland also offer all employees a workplace pension scheme. You’re automatically enrolled into your workplace scheme. You can opt-out if you wish. 

Find out more about state pensions (citizensadvice.org.uk)

Find out more about workplace pensions (citizensadvice.org.uk)

To get further advice on managing your wealth and planning for the future, you can contact a financial adviser.

Check getting financial advice (citizensadvice.org.uk) 

Health and care workers

Health and Care workers have the same rights at work as any other worker.  

However, it can be hard to complain about your rights because your visa is linked to your job.  

If you have a problem with your job, you can get help.

Read the guide on problems with your employer if you have a health and care worker visa (citizensadvice.org.uk) 

Protecting yourself against exploitation

We want everyone to have a good experience of working in Scotland. Most employers in Scotland follow the law. 

However, it’s important that you’re able to recognise if you’re being exploited. People can be exploited for labour, sex, criminality and domestic servitude. This is also called human trafficking (mygov.scot)    

The law in Scotland takes exploitation very seriously and will protect you. 

You don’t need to be moved from one place to another to have been trafficked. You might not immediately realise that you’ve been trafficked or exploited. 

If you’re exploited or trafficked, you might: 

• Be unable to choose when or where you work   
• Work very long hours over long periods 
• Be unable to negotiate working conditions 
• Be sexually exploited 
• Be forced to be a domestic servant 
• Be forced to commit criminal acts 

Where to go for help

If you or someone you know is in this situation, free, confidential help and support is available. There are organisations who have specially trained staff to listen to you, support you and help you to keep safe.

Call 999 if:  

• You or someone else is in immediate danger and you need help from the police 
• You or someone else need urgent medical help 

For non-emergency police help you can call 101. For non-emergency medical help, you can call NHS 24 on 111. 

You can call the confidential UK Modern Slavery and Exploitation Helpline (modernslaveryhelpline.org) on 08000 121 7000. 

If you are a victim of trafficking and exploitation you can get specialist support and accommodation (migranthelpuk.org) 

If you are a woman aged 18 or over and have been trafficked for sexual exploitation you can get help from Trafficking Awareness Raising Alliance (tarascotland.org.uk)  

Learn more about getting help if you’re being sexually exploited (safer.scot)

Header image photo credit: Visit Scotland / Kenny Lam