In Scotland, we think that what you do for fun is just as important as what you do for work. This page gives you the low-down on an average work week, and those all-important holidays.
Your work week will depend on the type of job that you do and whether it involves specific shift patterns or special working hours. In general, the average work week in Scotland is between 37 and 40 hours per week, with time allotted for lunch breaks.
We understand that every family is different, and will have different needs. As a result, many employers in Scotland allow for flexible working patterns. However, this is completely at the discretion of each employer and should be discussed with them.
All work and no play makes….well, you know the rest! In Scotland, all your hard work is rewarded with a generous amount of paid holiday time, because we know you deserve it. The holidays, known as ‘annual leave’ are calculated based on the number of days you work.
If you work full-time (five days a week) you’re normally entitled to at least 28 days of annual leave every year. It’s also worth pointing out that many companies do offer more than this at their own discretion.
If you work part-time, don’t worry, you still get holidays too! You can calculate the number of days you’re entitled to by multiplying the number of days you work each week by 5.6. So, if you work three days a week, you’re entitled to 16.8 days.
Most workplaces in Scotland close for public and bank holidays. While employers don’t have to pay you for these holidays, most do as an added bonus.
There are currently nine public and bank holidays in Scotland each year. While most are in line with the rest of the UK, we do have one or two special ones all to ourselves:
No matter what your working pattern is in Scotland, everyone is entitled to plenty of down time. Luckily, Scotland has a whole host of amazing things to keep those evenings and weekends fully occupied.
During the summer months, Scotland also benefits from an average of 17 hours of daylight, meaning that even after a long day at work, there is still plenty of time to take a short trip to the beach or countryside and squeeze in a beautiful early evening stroll.
Find out more about what to do in your free time at VisitScotland.com
Scotland has played host to a number of major international events in recent years and has developed a reputation for providing world-class hospitality. We've hosted major sporting events such as football’s Champions League Final, rugby’s World Cup and European Cup and golf’s British Open.
On top of this, Scotland regularly plays host to some of the biggest bands in the world and is a common stop on most major world tours.
2014 was a landmark year for us, as we hosted not only golf’s prestigious Ryder Cup, but also the Commonwealth Games. The Games, held in Glasgow, were widely referred to as the ‘most popular ever’ and were a true testament to Scotland’s excellent hosting abilities.
As we move forward, Scotland is scheduled to continue this well-deserved reputation, as several huge events grace our shores:
Find out more about what's coming up in Scotland at Eventscotland.org