Public Health Scotland has put a call out to employers to help them in a series of engagement events and activities, as part of a strategy to improve the health of the working age population in Scotland.
News
Employers in Scotland urged to share insights on workforce health as healthy life expectancy falls to record low
By
on 06 August 2025
Engagement activities include 1-2-1s, smaller group meetings and workshops. Employers in Scotland are also being asked to complete a survey, which aims to capture a range of employer perspectives on workforce health. Public Health Scotland says this will help them to understand “the most pressing challenges and actions employers are currently taking to support employee health as well as understanding where support is required.”
The survey results will inform the development of a Scottish Health and Work Action Plan. This plan will likely focus on prevention and early intervention to increase healthy life expectancy and reduce premature mortality.
St Andrews in Scotland. Photograph: iStock
It comes as new figures show healthy life expectancy in Scotland has fallen to a near ten-year low.
National Records of Scotland show that that in 2021-2023 females could expect to enjoy 60 years of good health and males 59.6 on average at birth. Currently, two-thirds of adults in Scotland carry excess weight, which is a significant contributor to poor health.
Dr Rishma Maini, Consultant in Public Health Medicine at Public Health Scotland, called the statistics “deeply concerning”: “We all have a role to play, be it local or national government, third sector, or businesses."
“An important step we can take together is to create an environment where healthy food is available and affordable – wherever we live, work, study and socialise. By taking coordinated action to improve the health of everyone in Scotland, we can help people live longer lives in good health.”
Access the survey here
NEWS
First workplace standard to address suicide awareness is published
By Belinda Liversedge on 07 November 2025
BSI has today published BS 30480, the UK’s first-ever national standard to help workplaces prevent and respond to suicide.
Mayfield proposes ‘new deal’ for workplace health in final report to government
By Belinda Liversedge on 06 November 2025
Sir Charlie Mayfield’s independent report for the government has set out a plan to get hundreds of thousands of "economically inactive" people in Britain into work and prevent more from quitting.
Top jobs in safety in greatest demand right now, says recruiter
By Belinda Liversedge on 29 October 2025
Senior safety professionals who can influence culture, lead transformation, and align health and safety with wider business goals are in growing demand by employers, the recruiter Irwin & Colton have said.