Question reference: S6W-05241
- Asked by: Daniel Johnson, MSP for Edinburgh Southern, Scottish Labour
- Date lodged: 20 December 2021
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Current status: Answered by Kevin Stewart on 7 January 2022
Question
To ask the Scottish Government how it is supporting businesses in providing psychologically healthy workplaces in (a) an office and (b) home-based working environment.
Answer
We know meaningful, fair work can provide important benefits for people’s mental health and wellbeing. Creating workplaces which support and promote good mental health benefits individuals and employers.
Our ‘Mental Health – Transition and Recovery Plan’ outlines our response to the mental health impacts of COVID-19 and our commitments to support mental health and wellbeing. The plan includes key employment actions to promote and support mental wellbeing at work.
A Short Life Working Group, consisting of employer groups, trade unions and mental health organisations has been established to help take forward key employment actions. The group is working collaboratively to identify the issues and challenges employers are facing in supporting mental health in a range of different workplaces, including office and home-based environments. The outcomes of this will inform the next steps to be undertaken to ensure employers have the support they need to create mentally healthy workplaces, free of stigma and discrimination across all sectors.
The group has a dedicated sub-group reviewing current national guidance on safer workplaces, including guidance on home working to ensure it reflects the importance of looking after employees’ mental wellbeing while working from home, and signposting to appropriate sources of advice and support.