Jurisdiction(s):
United Kingdom

Key definition

Policy definition

What does Policy mean? In property practice, particularly in Scotland, policy (often policies) describes the grounds of a house—typically the garden, drives, parkland and other enclosed land associated with a dwelling, often within a boundary or policy wall. It is a descriptive conveyancing term rather than a defined statutory concept, but is well‑established in Scots property usage and title deeds. The term is used to identify what land is conveyed or retained with a house, to interpret real burdens and servitudes affecting the grounds (for example, maintenance of policy walls, tree controls or access routes), and to assess privacy and public access. In Scotland, guidance...

Employment policies and works rules: contractual status, incorporation tests, unilateral variation and reliance in dismissal and detriment claims

Published by a LexisNexis Employment expert

Practice notes

This Practice Note

This Practice Note explores the character of employment policies and Policy documents within the employment context. Policies are akin to guidance: they reflect customary practice, and sound practice, yet they are not declarations of practice that applies in every situation. By their very nature, there will be occasions when adhering to a policy would be inappropriate, and flexibility is contemplated. It is recognised that employers must create Rules to manage the minutiae of everyday working life without those rules becoming fixed contractual terms. For illustration, in Dryden, the employer implemented a ban on smoking at work (before the statutory prohibition, see Practice Note: Smoking in the Workplace). The employee resigned and alleged Constructive dismissal, asserting that introducing the ban amounted to a fundamental breach of their employment contract. The EAT concluded that the new policy was a ‘works rule’. It had no contractual force and therefore could not serve as the basis for a constructive dismissal claim. The employer was entitled to stipulate rules governing employees’ conduct that operate within the scope of the contract. In short, policies inform practice and provide structure, but they do not, without more, convert guidance into binding contractual obligations...

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Web page updated on 21/05/2026

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