We use cookies to collect anonymous data to help us improve your site browsing experience.

Click 'Accept all cookies' to agree to all cookies that collect anonymous data. To only allow the cookies that make the site work, click 'Use essential cookies only.' Visit 'Set cookie preferences' to control specific cookies.

Set cookie preferences

Your cookie preferences have been saved. You can change your cookie settings at any time.

Publication - Advice and guidance

Making a formal complaint about a minister’s or former minister’s behaviour: procedure

Last updated
11 November 2024 - see all updates
Directorate
Propriety and Ethics Directorate
Topic
Public sector

Procedure for civil servants making a complaint about a Scottish Government minister or former Scottish Government minister.

Aims

Date of operation

This procedure is in operation from 22 December 2022.

Aims of the procedure

The policy aim of this procedure, in line with our general commitment to staff to creating a workplace free from bullying, harassment and discrimination, is to ensure that formal complaints raised about current or former Ministers in respect of unacceptable behaviour towards civil servants are handled sensitively, fairly and timeously and in doing so all parties are treated with respect and dignity.

The procedure provides for the handling of formal complaints made by civil servants about the behaviour (including bullying, harassment, discrimination, or any other unwanted conduct affecting the dignity of staff) of a Minister or former Minister, in the course of discharging their duties as civil servants in their employment by the Scottish Government (‘SG’). This includes addressing related issues within such complaints, such as the action of the SG in preventing or addressing the alleged behaviour.

The procedure does not provide for any decision on the conduct of a Minister or former Minister. The First Minister has responsibility to judge the standards of behaviour expected of a Minister, including in their interactions with civil servants, and of the appropriate consequences of a breach of those standards. 

First published
13 January 2022
Last updated
11 November 2024 - show all updates

  1. Email address updated in stage 5 page.

  2. Procedure updated, including information on reporting the outcome of complaints.

  3. Date of procedure added to Aims page and Subject of complaint or the subject(s) of the complaint section updated on Terms of reference.

Back to top