Scout’s Scotland – Winner 2020 – Scottish Top Employers Awards (Third Sector)

Scout’s Scotland understands that people need to be able to balance work and life at home in a healthy way. Essentially, maintaining a good work-life balance is a what we are all about as an employer. Scout’s Scotland offers a wide range of part-time contracts, compressed hours, early and late finishes, annualised hours, phased retirement, short- and long-term arrangements.   

Employees can make use of an onsite school holiday childcare club offering a 25% discount. This is a benefit available to all employees, and one that really adds values due to the number of parents working for Scout’s Scotland. In our view, flexible working is about much more than just the hours people work. It’s about making sure people are happy at work and have the freedom to organise work in a way allows them to manage other commitments and avoid unnecessary stress.  

Winning insights  

• Increase in the volume of job applications and no longer advertise more than once to fill a role.  
• We have experienced a significant decrease in sickness related absences. (average 2017 – 153 days per quarter, 2018 – 82 days per quarter, 2019 – 8 days per quarter).  
• We have been recognised as a Carer Positive Engaged Employer by the Carers Trust for supporting employees who are carers to remain at work.  
• We have received significant positive feedback from employees verified independently by Investors in People.  
• Enhanced maternity and paternity pay. Maternity up to 3 months full pay depending on length of service. Paternity and adoption pay.  
• Flexible working opportunities are highlighted to parents and carers.
• We have onsite school holiday childcare and offer employees a 25% discount.  
• We offer childcare vouchers but obviously that is now closed to new applicants due to legislative changes.  
• Maternity up to 3 months full pay depending on length of service. Adoption pay as per maternity and paternity.  
• 100% of employees work flexibly informally  

What their people say:  

“I have never worked anywhere that has such a fantastic attitude to work-life balance as Scouts Scotland. They do more than just have policies in place- they actively encourage staff to work in a way that supports their own and their family’s well-being. This flexible working culture has made it much easier for me, as a single Mum, to be able to return to work for the first time in 7 years. I work part-time and was able to choose the hours and days I work meaning I could fit work around the childcare that was available.”

“The encouragement to work flexibly means that I can structure my time in a way that positively impacts me and my family whilst still allowing me to fulfil my role at work – I sometimes use my lunch hour to go outside for some fresh air and exercise and have always been able to swap my hours so that I don’t miss the small but important things in life- like my daughter’s football match or my son’s assembly. It’s refreshing to work somewhere with such a forward-thinking attitude – it makes for a hugely positive working culture – and a much happier home life!”