Fair Work Statement

This statement confirms our commitment to ensuring fair working practices are in place in support of ‘Fair Work First’.   

We extend our Fair Work commitment to the freelance community with whom we work and include key freelancers in our decision-making and development processes throughout the year.  

We respect the Fair Work Convention, and follow the five ‘dimensions’ of effective voice, opportunity, security, fulfilment and respect. This statement details how we express these five dimensions in our practice. This will reflected upon and developed as we continue to identify how to improve ourselves as an employer.   

Effective Voice   

We support the concept of an effective voice at all levels of the organisation. 

We have effective channels for communication and consult meaningfully with employees so they can be actively involved in organisational decision-making. We recognise that effective leadership is about being informed and at its best it gathers perspectives, and is informed by, a range of opinions. 

We encourage openness, transparency and dialogue, and facilitate opportunities for employee voice and feedback through Team Meetings, reviews and weekly/fortnightly ‘check-ins’ for all staff, an annual Planning Week including forums for discussion, feedback from our participants through surveys after each festival so they can share their experience of working with us, and a Safer Spaces feedback portal that is open year-round to staff and which can be submitted to anonymously if desired.  

 Opportunity   

We are conscious of our workforce profile and we aim to ensure that opportunities are made available to as wide a range of people as possible by reducing barriers to opportunities or participation.   

We use a wide range of recruitment platforms and offer audio and text job descriptions as well accepting audio, video and online text-based applications.   

The full team undertakes an annual Planning Week to discuss organisational and wider sector issues together. Team members are encouraged to attend training and development opportunities throughout the year. We also run team-wide training which has included Unconscious Bias, and Equity, Diversity & Inclusion.  

We are working to achieve a more representative Board via a recruitment effort with reference to gender balance, ethnicity, disability and age.   

Security   

All staff at Edinburgh International Book Festival are offered PAYE contracts. 

 We are a Real Living Wage employer. This includes intern positions. Our suppliers of services such as security and cleaning also pay the Living Wage Rate as a minimum.  

We offer flexible and family friendly working practices for all workers from day one of employment.  

All freelancers receive a Contract of Services, specifying rates of pay, duration and schedule of services. We refer to BECTU for freelancer industry rates to ensure we pay a fair rate that supports and respects the freelance sector that we rely on.   

All authors, chairs and participants receive payment. The fee level depends on the role as an author, chair or participant (e.g. panel guest) but is the same level for all within the category.   

Fulfilment   

We recognise that wellbeing, motivation, ownership over work and engagement enables employees to feel more fulfilled, confident and creative in their roles.   

 We encourage leaders to ensure skills are being used effectively and that opportunities to increase autonomy or upskill posts are recognised and acted upon.  

We support staff to keep professional qualifications and memberships up to date.  

We have invested in paid internships for those who experience barriers to employment in our sector.  

All staff have access to a wellbeing account in our Employment Assistance Package.  

Respect   

We recognise that respect in the workplace enhances employee health and safety and wellbeing. Our varied ways of consulting with staff ensure a platform for everyone in the workplace to contribute.  

We have a Safer Spaces Statement which is displayed at common staff and participant areas during the Festival. The statement, developed in consultation with a group of staff from across the organisation, states our commitment to making our team feel safe, welcome and included.   

We are members of the Disability Confident Scheme.  

Updated 01/08/2025