Question reference: S5W-34543
- Asked by: Elaine Smith, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
- Date lodged: 13 January 2021
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Current status: Answered by Jamie Hepburn on 21 January 2021
Question
To ask the Scottish Government what support it is able to offer to any worker that has been denied time off work to attend an appointment to receive a COVID-19 vaccination or to escort vulnerable relatives to attend their vaccination appointments.
Answer
We are acutely aware of the significant challenges employers and workers continue to face as our economy responds to the impacts of the Coronavirus. The vaccine forms a critical part of our public health strategy, and whilst we don’t have responsibility for employment law, on 18 December 2020 we updated our joint statement of Fair Work practices to make specific reference to supporting workers to “attend for vaccination when advised to do so, without any financial detriment.”
In addition, we have highlighted to the main business representative organisations through targeted communications, our expectation that they adopt a flexible approach considerate of the circumstances of employees own health or that of vulnerable dependents.
The health and wellbeing of individuals, communities and the economy is our priority, and in these exceptional times, adopting a Fair Work approach is more important than ever.