Volunteering days used by Science and Advice for Scottish Agriculture staff: FOI release

Information requested

1. How many civil service employee volunteering days are permitted to SASA staff per year? (e.g. policy is 3 days for FT staff ) [number]

2. How many civil service employee volunteering days were used across all SASA departments/directorates in the financial year of 2024-25? [number]

3. What percentage of all available days are used? (e.g. 15% of volunteer days are used by SASA staff) [percentage]

4. How many employees are offered employee volunteering days across all SASA staff? [number]

5. What percentage is this of all SASA employees? [percentage]

Response

Please find below answers to your questions:

1. All Scottish Government employees are entitled to 42 hours (6 days) paid special leave in 12 month rolling period to volunteer. This is pro-rata for part-time staff.

2. In the financial year of 2024-25, 18 volunteering days and 2 hours were used for all SASA Division.

3. 1.8% used by SASA Staff.

4. All staff are offered employee volunteering days as per the SG guidance in question 1.

5. 100% as all staff can use volunteering leave.

About FOI

The Scottish Government is committed to publishing all information released in response to Freedom of Information requests. View all FOI responses at https://www.gov.scot/foi-responses.