What is Fair Work?

Creative Scotland is committed to a strategic priority of Fair Work, which means promoting fair pay, conditions, and employment opportunities across the creative sector.

The aim of Fair Work is to see progressive workplace policies which:

• improve productivity and innovation
• promote greater workplace democracy
• deliver opportunities and best practice
• see adoption of the Real Living Wage and fair remuneration through its implementation

Fair Work First - Scottish Government

Fair Work First is the Scottish Government's flagship policy for driving high quality and fair work across the labour market in Scotland. This is through applying fair work criteria to grants, other funding and contracts being awarded by and across the public sector, where it is relevant to do so.

Through this approach the Scottish Government is asking employers to adopt fair working practices, specifically:

• appropriate channels for effective voice, such as trade union recognition;
• investment in workforce development;
• no inappropriate use of zero hours contracts;
• action to tackle the gender pay gap and create a more diverse and inclusive workplace;
• payment of the real Living Wage;
• offering flexible and family friendly working practices for all workers from day one of employment; and
• opposing the use of fire and rehire practices.

Fair Work dimensions

The Scottish Government’s Fair Work Convention sets out the five dimensions of the Scottish Government’s Fair Work policy.

Opportunities

It is a reasonable aspiration to want work that is fair – and for fair work to be available to everyone.

Fair opportunity allows people to access and progress in work and employment and is a crucial dimension of Fair Work.

This can be achieved through:

• Robust recruitment and selection procedures
• Paid internships
• Training and development opportunities
• Promotion and progression practices
• Buddying and mentoring
• Engaging with diverse and local communities

Security

Security of income can contribute to greater individual and family stability and promote more effective financial planning, including investment in pensions. Security of employment, work and income are important foundations of a successful life.

This can be achieved through:

• Fair pay (for example, the Real Living Wage)
• No inappropriate use of zero hours contracts or exploitative working patterns
• Collective arrangements for pay and conditions
• Building stability into contractual arrangements
• Flexible working to align with family life and caring commitments
• Employment security arrangements
• Fair opportunity for pay progression
• Sick pay and pensions

Fulfilment

Fulfilment can come from positive and supportive workplace relationships that promote a sense of belonging and this overlaps strongly with respect as a dimension of fair work. It is widely acknowledged that fulfilment is a key factor in both individual and organisational wellbeing. This includes the opportunity to use your skills, to be able to influence work, to have some control and have access to training and development.

This can be achieved through:

• Effective skills use
• Providing autonomy, the opportunity to problem solve and to make a difference
• Investing in training, learning and skills development and career advancement

Respect

Respect at work improves individual health, safety and wellbeing. Dignified treatment can protect workers from workplace-related illness and injury and create an environment free from bullying and harassment. Fair Work is work in which people are respected and treated respectfully, whatever their role or status.

This can be achieved through:

• Considering the concerns of others
• Respect of behaviours and attitudes
• Policies and practices which are understood and applied that respect health, safety and wellbeing
• Respect of others’ personal and family lives
• Opportunities for flexible working

Effective voice

For individuals, the opportunity to have an effective voice is crucially important. Having a say at work is consistent with the broader suite of rights available to citizens in democratic societies. Being listened to, and the ability to speak, individually or collectively through, for example, a recognised trade union, is closely linked to the development of respectful and reciprocal workplace relationships.

This can be achieved through:

• Enabling staff to have a voice at all levels
• Openness, transparency, dialogue and tolerance of different views
• Formal and informal structures
• Union recognition and collective bargaining

More information

• Scottish Government Fair Work and Pay
• The Fair Work Convention
• The Fair Work Framework
• Review of Fair Work