Covid Test and Work

TBagpuss

OK - I think you need to speak to your manager. Ask them to confirm that the testing will be done 'on the clock' for all staff, and ask whether it is mandatory (it probably isn't - legally it's not clear whether employers can require employees to take tests, government advice is to 'strongly encourage' that staff do so.

Options you could consider would be :

1. order your own free tests and do the test yourself at home, if this would be less stressful for you

2. tell the manager that you can't do the tests for medical reasons , but say you would be willing to do a spit test if the company wishes to pay for that (tests are available which can be bought privately where you spit in a cup instead of swabbing your nose and throat , but they aren't available for free as part of the governments mass testing provisions)

TELLIT01

jemstone001 said:

Hi all, 

Just looking to see how other work places are doing this. My colleague has just called me and said that our manager has just turned up and given her a box of the lateral flow Covid tests and said that we are to start doing them. No instructions as to how often or any email or phone call from the manager themselves. My question is that if I'm going to be doing this should staff be getting paid for it? It's an hour of my week that will be spent sticking stuff down my throat (which from the one time I was tested caused me to vomit so test had to be redone) for a sessional post with no guaranteed hours at the end of it. 

My anxiety around vomiting twice a week is pretty high so me clocking in to do them seems fair in my head but I also feel I'm being unreasonable. 

It's not an hour a week, it's more like 2 minutes per test.  Do it when you get up and the result will be ready by the time you have washed, dressed and had your breakfast.

Savvy_Sue

When I went to pick up our tests I was offered a guided test on the spot, which was strongly recommended if I hadn't taken one before. There's only one test centre in our city which offers this, mind you, the rest you have to just go home and get on with it. If you've got a place like that you could ask about the possibility of not using tonsils. 

I have one colleague who can't self-test their tonsils because of sensory issues / trauma. I believe the option of nasal swabbing only is permissible if the tonsils can't be used, but really the best thing will be to speak to a manager about how this really is supposed to work. It may not have occurred to them that some staff are doing this in paid time, and some not. 

Presumably they don't want you to 'leave' the test because they don't know whether it would be safe from interference / contamination in your home (pets, children, partners ...) and you are supposed to leave it on a flat surface rather than moving it around, but just do it before you're going to do something where you'd in be in the same room. Since you're not supposed to eat or drink for 30 minutes before testing, I usually put the kettle on, do the test and make a sandwich while it 'cooks'. 

JamoLew

bap98189 said:

My OH works for the NHS and has been doing these for months now. It's only a nasal swab. Takes her 2 minutes in the morning. Yes it takes 30 mins for the result but you don't have to sit watching it, you can just leave it until the result comes through.

It would have been nice for your employer to have given you some guidence on how to use them but it isn't hard to find on the internet. Here is a booklet or there is a video if you prefer.

Likewise - have been doing these for at least twice a week since November never even crossed my mind to think about asking for the time back or anything - its all part of being a professional, responsible and conscientious member of society

Now moved onto weekly LAMP tests (never realised how much 2ml of spit actually was !)

pinkshoes

I do these twice a week for school.

I also have sensory issues so just do both nostrils rather than throat. I cannot get the stupid thing anywhere near my throat without gagging!

Once you get used to it, the whole thing takes a couple of minutes, then you just look 30 minutes later for your result, then scan the testing thing with your phone to enter the result into the NHS data base. 

You really don't need paying for it.