Staff Benefits

SCRA recognises that its employees are its most valuable asset and we strive to be an employer of choice. We are committed to providing good terms and conditions of employment for all staff – details are available below.

Work-Life Balance:

Hours of Work

The normal working week is 35 hours, normally worked 09:00-17:00 hours, Monday – Friday. If you are applying for a part-time job, you will usually be advised of the hours and any unusual work pattern in the advert. Further details can be found by contacting the relevant recruitment email address on the advert.

Flexible Working Hours

SCRA operates a generous Flexible Working Hour Scheme. Core times are from 10:00-12:00 hours and 14:30-16:00 hours, with flexible working hours between 07:30-10:00 hours, 12:00-14:30 hours (a maximum of 2 hours may be taken for lunch), and 16:00-18:30 hours. Subject to operational requirements, employees have the facility to take up to 2 days flexi-leave in any 4 week period. This will be pro-rated if you work part-time.

Generous Leave Entitlements

Our leave year runs from 1 January to 31 December. Annual leave starts at 25 days and increases to 30 days after 5 years. We may recognise previous service. Leave for part-time staff is pro-rated to hours worked. In addition, there are 13 days public holiday per annum, of which a minimum of 8 are fixed (depends on your Locality). That means new employees receive a minimum of 38 days leave a year.

Flexible Working Policy

This scheme is available to all SCRA staff from day one of employment. SCRA supports flexible working and understands that it makes good business sense to fully consider requests for flexible and alternative working practices as this can lead to a retention of skilled and experienced staff and high levels of staff morale.

Special Leave Policy

There are a number of other occasions when SCRA will support absence from work and specific details can be found in the Leave and Associated Allowances Policy. SCRA has a range of other work life balance initiatives including:

Job Sharing & Part-time Working Policies
Maternity Leave Provisions
Adoption Leave Provisions
Paternity Leave Provisions
Parental Leave Policy
Dependant Care Leave Policy
Career Break Policy
Shared Parental Leave
Bereavement Leave
Disability Leave
Carer’s Leave

Conditions:

Competitive Salary

SCRA aims to ensure that the salaries we offer are competitive in equivalent markets. We have recently undergone a Pay and Grading review to ensure our salaries achieve these aims. Our policy on appointment is that staff are normally placed at the bottom of the pay scale.

Pay Progression

SCRA’s rewards strategy is aligned with the Scottish Government’s Pay Policy Guidance, which is published annually. SCRA’s implementation date for any changes to pay is 1st April in each year. Where incremental progression is being awarded as part of an agreed pay offer, individuals will move to the next step in their grade if they have been in post prior to 31st December of the previous calendar year and where satisfactory performance has been assessed through SCRA’s Development and Supervision Framework.

Method of Salary Payment

We pay staff monthly by credit transfer to bank or building society on the 15th of each month.

Career Average Pension Scheme

SCRA operates a Career Average Pension Scheme. The Local Government Superannuation Scheme is administered on SCRA’s behalf by Falkirk Council. Benefits include:

Members of the LGPS will contribute between 5.5% and 11.2% and SCRA currently contribute 20.6% of your salary on your behalf
Pension & Tax free lump sum on retiral
Death benefits if applicable
Widow/children’s pension, if applicable.

If you elect to use this scheme, Falkirk Council will contact you shortly after you start with SCRA to ask you if you wish to transfer your pension if eligible. If you need advice prior to this, please contact Falkirk Council pensions on 01324 506070.

SCRA’s normal retirement age is the same as the state pension age which is currently 66 years of age. Staff may request to work beyond 66 and SCRA will consider this.

Employee Relations

SCRA operates in a collective bargaining framework. Unison is the recognised trade union.

General Transport Costs

Where an individual has to use public transport or their own vehicle for business purposes they will receive re-imbursement for all associated costs in line with our Travel Policy. If you are deemed to be an Essential Car User you will receive an annual allowance of £825 which is paid in 12 equal monthly installments.

Relocation Expenses

New employees appointed on a permanent basis may be entitled to financial assistance if they are obliged to move home in order to take up appointment with SCRA. The maximum limit of financial assistance is £5000. Expenses covered by the scheme include legal costs, removal costs, travel and temporary accommodation costs.

Cycle to Work Scheme

The Cycle to Work scheme is a government-backed initiative that helps you spread the cost of a bike and essential cycling equipment in a tax-efficient way. Through a salary sacrifice arrangement, the cost is taken from your salary before tax, meaning you could save on Income Tax and National Insurance. The scheme can be used for commuting, leisure cycling or improving your fitness, and supports both physical wellbeing and more sustainable travel choices.

Recognised Service

SCRA recognises continuous service in line with the Redundancy Payments (Continuity of Employment in Local Government, etc) (Modification) Order 1999.

Agile Working

The approach where both managers and employees can explore ways to work differently which can positively benefit SCRA and employees in the use of office spaces and the way employees can deliver their roles in an agile way.

Dental Insurance

Unum Dental’s insurance is designed to help you look after your oral health and manage the cost of dental care. Cover includes routine treatments such as examinations and hygienist visits, which can help prevent more serious issues, as well as restorative treatments like fillings, root canals, crowns and dental implants. The plan also includes cover for accident and emergency dental treatment, including sports-related injuries. There is no dental health check required to join, and you are free to visit any dentist worldwide, giving you flexibility and peace of mind wherever you are. This benefit has a four-week enrolment window in February of any year; however, new starts have 30 days from joining SCRA to enrol.

Gym Discounts

Through MyGymDiscounts, you can access reduced gym membership rates at over 3,600 gyms and health clubs across the UK. This includes independent gyms, council-run leisure centres and well-known national chains such as David Lloyd Clubs, Bannatyne Health Club & Spa, PureGym, The Gym Group and Nuffield Health. The scheme is self-paid, giving you the freedom to choose a gym that suits your lifestyle, location and fitness goals. Discounts are also available on digital fitness subscriptions and home workout equipment, offering flexible options for staying active.

Mortgage Advice

SCRA employees have access to free, professional mortgage advice through Charles Cameron & Associates. Advice is tailored to your individual circumstances, whether you are buying your first home, moving house, remortgaging or investing in property. A key feature of this service is the ongoing commitment to review your mortgage and help mitigate the risk of moving onto your lender’s standard variable rate for example, which is typically higher than fixed or tracker rates. This review service is available to SCRA employees even if their original mortgage was not arranged through Charles Cameron & Associates.

ScotWest Credit Union

The credit union offers a range of ethical financial products and services, including savings accounts, loans and mortgages. SCRA employees can choose to join the credit union and manage their finances in a simple and affordable way. Savings and loan repayments can be made directly through salary deductions, helping you budget more easily and build financial resilience over time.

Health and Welfare:

Employee Assistance Programme

We understand that life is not simple and it often helps to have someone with whom you can talk through work or home issues. To support this, we offer staff and their immediate family members access to a free ‘Employee Assistance Programme’, which is provided by an independent company. It operates 24 hours a day, 365 days a year and offers professional counselling, advice and information on a range of issues.

Health and Safety

SCRA is committed to achieving the highest possible standards of occupational health, safety and welfare. We aim to have a proportionate, meaningful and reasonable system for managing risk and recognise that statutory obligations provide a minimum standard.

Smoking Policy

A no smoking policy is observed at all SCRA offices.

Eye and Eyesight Test Policy

We will contribute £60 to any spectacles required for you to work with computer screens.

Sickness

All employees are entitled to the following generous sickness allowance:

Entitlement
Service	Full Pay	Half Pay
Less than 1 year	5 weeks	5 weeks
1 year but less than 2 years	9 weeks	9 weeks
2 years but less than 3 years	18 weeks	18 weeks
3 years but less than 5 years	22 weeks	22 weeks
5 years or more	26 weeks	26 weeks

SCRA operates a comprehensive Maximising Attendance Strategy, which aims to support and help individuals experiencing illness and during their return to work. We are supported in this by access to Occupational Health specialists.

Learning and Development

SCRA offers a wide range of courses to staff which are delivered using a variety of methods including in-house, e-learning and the use of external providers.

Recruitment

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