Staff assistance, well-being and health

Employee counselling service

SQA’s counselling service, provided by AXA, offers staff and their immediate family members (as long as they are over 16 years of age and living in the same household) personal support through telephone and face-to-face counselling. The service can be accessed 24 hours a day, 365 days a year by using the confidential freephone number 0800 587 5670.

Trained counsellors can provide impartial and non-judgemental advice and support on issues such as stress, bereavement, addiction, emotional and relationship issues, and on career issues. Face-to-face counselling can also be arranged, and you can be referred to specialist organisations for debt and legal issues.

Staff Leave Policy

SQA recognises that staff have domestic and personal responsibilities outside of work and our culture is to support staff through the provision of the staff leave policy. This allows staff to take time off when required, with the approval of the appropriate manager. The staff leave policy offers opportunities for parental leave (unpaid); time off for dependants (paid and unpaid); extended annual leave (unpaid); long term leave of absence/sabbatical (unpaid); moving house (paid); public duties (paid and unpaid); and Territorial Army/Reserve Forces/Cadets Association (paid).

Long Term Leave of Absence/Sabbaticals

Staff with five or more years’ continuous service can apply for a period of unpaid leave of absence/sabbatical for a minimum of six months and a maximum of twenty-four months. SQA will consider all reasonable requests on their own merits.

While on a period of unpaid leave of absence/sabbatical your contract of employment is terminated, but is reinstated with continuity of service preserved where a suitable post of equivalent terms and conditions can be secured for your return.

Make A Change (MAC)

SQA currently holds the prestigious Healthy Working Lives Gold Award. Our award-winning MAC group is run by staff volunteers and promotes health and lifestyle choices. MAC organises classes in a range of physical activities, including yoga, pilates, salsa-cise, samba-fit, hooping and t’ai chi. Massage and chiropody are also available, and many activities are subsidised. Campaigns include ‘Fruity Fridays’, when free fruit is provided to staff several times a year. MAC will pay half the cost of staff entering marathons and half-marathons.

Occupational health

SQA's Occupational Health Advisor provides staff with confidential medical advice to support them in resolving medical problems which are impacting on their working life.

Eye care

Free eye tests are available in Scotland by contacting any optician. If glasses are needed to assist with working at a computer screen you can receive £45 towards the value of your glasses.