My Column

We have to keep an eye on workers

  • Date: Monday 24th September 2018
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I’m always thrilled to see unemployment figures in Scotland fall and employment rates rise – but are we collectively doing enough to ensure that the nation’s workforce is able to keep performing well?

Earlier in the year, we saw Scotland’s jobless total drop by 6,000 to 112,000 and the unemployment rate fell from 4.3 per cent to 4.1 per cent.

At the same time, our workforce is continuing to evolve, with official figures showing there are a record number of more than 83,000 people over the age of 65 working in Scotland.

 

As people continue to live longer, a further 23,000 in this demographic are expected to be in employment by 2030 – and it’s fantastic to be able to draw on that huge pool of experience as part of an ever more diverse Scottish workforce.

 

However, there is a real need to ensure that those elder members of the workforce are fighting fit.

 

It was worrying then to find recent research showing that more than 20,000 of our older working population are just not getting their eyes tested regularly enough, making them more susceptible to glaucoma, age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and cataracts, which could have a huge impact on their life and work.

 

As a successful entrepreneur in Scotland, I don’t think I will be slowing down anytime soon and will more than likely continue to work past retirement age, so this startling statistic jumped out at me.

Fundamentally, if we want to keep doing what we love, whether it’s work or play, we need to look after ourselves.  

Research shows that our sight is the sense that we fear losing the most, and it’s obviously crucial to our work and life prospects, so why are so many people not looking after their eyes?

Today marks the start of National Eye Health Week (24-30 September), and with the record number of older people in employment in Scotland, sight loss charity RNIB and high-street opticians Specsavers are urging Scotland’s ageing workforce to make their eye health a priority as pension entitlement ages increase.

Research from RNIB shows there are already more than 446,000 people with preventable sight loss conditions of AMD, cataracts, glaucoma and diabetic retinopathy in Scotland and, as the figures show, this number is inevitably going to climb.

With more than 43,000 people in Glasgow and more than 37,000 in Edinburgh living with these conditions, it’s clear that prevention needs to be high on the agenda – something that the NHS has identified and is encouraging across the board.

Optometry in Scotland is a shining example to the rest of the UK and beyond, with eye tests being free for all. Going for an exam every two years is a vital way to ensure your sight is protected, and any issues are managed so you can continue to work, and play, on your terms.

And going to your optician, rather than your GP or other health care provider, with any eye issues as a first port of call is also crucial – not only will they keep your eyes in tip top condition, they help to ease the pressure on our overloaded hospitals by managing eye issues in the community, something Optometry Scotland and the Scottish Government are keen to encourage.

An eye test can also pick up signs of numerous other serious conditions such as diabetes, tumours, hypertension, cancer, thyroid disease and cardiovascular disease.

The early detection and treatment of these has significant implications for the NHS, with the potential to save millions of pounds.

As a nation, we cannot neglect our health – especially if we want to continue to pursue our passions, goals and career aspirations beyond retirement.

I suspect many people already know they should have regular eye tests and National Eye Health Week is the perfect chance to book that appointment.

With opticians on every high street and eye tests completely free in Scotland, we really have no excuse.

 

SIDE

City of Edinburgh Council has endorsed plans to make the Forth Bridges an even greater draw for tourists – and their vision for a cutting edge experience is to be congratulated.

There are proposals for a new visitor welcome hub where tourists could use virtual and augmented reality technologies in which they would be immersed in the history of the iconic structures.

There are also plans for events all through the calendar year and free Wi-Fi to upload those Instagram shots. There’s also talk of a 100 metre high viewing platform for those seeking a little surge of adrenaline from the stunning panorama that the bridges offer.

It looks like there’s real potential here and I’ve also heard that a Scotts bar and restaurant is set to open in the next few weeks at Port Edgar Marina, which sits in an impressive spot right between the Queensferry Crossing and Forth Road Bridge.  

If hospitality group Buzzworks Holdings’ other award-winning restaurants are anything to go by, then it’s likely to be another success, bolstered by the great location.

The company – which continues to expand across Scotland following a £3 million refinancing deal with HSBC – has done very well on the Ayrshire coast so it will be interesting to see how it fares with its first venture in the East.

If the bridge tourism plans go ahead, in tandem with exciting new business ventures, then they’ll represent a great boost for the local economy. The only downside is reports of the public toilet facilities in the area leaving much to be desired and requiring significant investment.

C’mon City of Edinburgh Council - get them sorted before the next influx of visitors.

 

LAUGH

Here’s a very 21st Century parenting problem for you - how should you speak to your digital assistants?

Parents are being urged to be polite when speaking to voice-operated devices in their home, particularly when their children are in the room.

It’s been suggested that being rude to these virtual helpers - including Google’s Alexa and Microsoft’s Cortana - could encourage your kids to pick up bad habits.

To combat this, both Amazon and Google have introduced a ‘politeness feature’, so when you mind your Ps and Qs, assistants respond by expressing their gratitude.

It’s crazy to think that so many toddlers growing up these days will not have known life without artificial intelligence – but whether digital assistants are a fad or not, good manners never go out of fashion.

 

WEEP

Last week’s Storm Ali might not have been quite as bad as the Beast from the East, but it certainly did some damage.

Last winter, the adverse weather conditions cost the UK economy £1 billion a day with gridlocked motorways, very limited public transport, and staff unable to make it to work.

The UK was certainly not equipped to deal with it, and no wonder, with temperatures being at their coldest for 27 years.

While last week’s storm was primarily made up of strong wind and rain, families were still trapped in their homes and 70,000 were left without power – and we’re only in September.

It’s fair to say that we might well be in for another tricky winter this year.

 

 

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