Coronavirus (COVID-19): highest risk - survey report - July 2021

Returning to work

From previous research with people at highest risk, we know that being in the workplace was an area of concern for key workers and for people who were unable to work from home. As restrictions continue to ease in Scotland, people who have been working from home so far may eventually be asked to return to the office – at their employer’s discretion. We wanted to understand how respondents felt about potentially returning to work, and whether there were any areas where Scottish Government could provide further guidance or support.

Of the 1615 respondents who were working:

• 42% were going to the workplace
• 40% were still working from home
• 13% were doing a mixture of working from home and going to the workplace
• 5% were unable to work from home but were choosing not to go to the workplace

Those who were choosing not to go to the workplace (n75) said that they had either been signed off work (56%), didn’t feel safe returning (52%) or had been advised not to return to the workplace by their doctor (25%).

Of those who were now going to the workplace (n880), 91% of them had returned in the three months prior to the survey. 66% of the respondents who had returned to work had felt supported in their return to the workplace.

The 34% (n273) of people who did not feel supported in their return to the workplace felt that this was because of:

• other people not sticking to the rules (67%)
• the measures not being properly enforced (56%)
• the measures that were being put in place not making them feel safer (54%)

Of those who were still working from home (n632), 48% expected to be asked to return to the workplace once restrictions allowed.

73% (n629) of those expecting to be asked to return to work felt uncomfortable about the prospect of being asked to return to the workplace.

Where respondents are currently working from

Working from home	40%
Going to the workplace	42%
A mixture of working from home and going to the workplace	13%
Unable to work from home but not going to the workplace	5%
Response count	1595

Whether respondents who were going to the workplace had needed to return in the last 3 months

Yes	91%
No	9%
Response count	880

Whether respondents who had returned to the workplace felt supported in their return

Yes	66%
No	34%
Response count	795

Why respondents felt unsupported when they returned to the workplace

Other people were not sticking to the rules	67%
The measures were not being properly enforced	56%
The measures that were put in place did not make me feel safer	54%
I felt rushed back to the workplace without being able to prepare and make sure it was safe	46%
My employer didn’t understand that I was at higher risk	31%
Another reason	8%
Response count	273

Guidance read or followed in advance of returning to the workplace

I did an individual risk assessment	54%
I asked about a workplace risk assessment or changes to make it safer	46%
Look at the additional safety steps guidance	36%
I did not do any of these	14%
I got help from another organisation (e.g. health and safety or a trade union)	10%
I don’t know	1%
Response count	797

Whether respondents found the additional guidance on safety steps useful

Yes	85%
No	15%
Response count	288

Why those who are unable to work from home have not returned to the workplace

I have been signed off work	56%
I do not feel safe about returning to the workplace	52%
My doctor has advised me not to return to the workplace	25%
Another reason	15%
My organisation has not yet opened up the workplace for staff	5%
No particular reason	0%
Response count	75

Whether respondents expect to be asked to return the workplace when restrictions allow

Yes	48%
No	29%
I don’t know	23%
Response count	632

How comfortable respondents feel about returning to the workplace

Very comfortable	3%
Fairly comfortable	11%
Neutral	13%
Fairly uncomfortable	30%
Very uncomfortable	43%
Response count	629