Covid Testing for Employees in the Workplace

Tips for Covid Testing Employees in the workplace

The roll out of rapid Covid testing in universities and local authority test has led to rapid testing being offered to employees who cannot work from home during the ongoing period of restrictions.   The aim of testing in the workplace is to assist in the fight against the rate of transmissions, especially as scientific evidence tells us there are a large proportion of individuals are asymptomatic.

Whilst there are local authorities who have signed up to the testing there is nothing preventing employers doing the same. It's similar to universities testing their students however.

Considerations Employers need to Make When Deciding to Implement on site Covid Testing for Employees.

Some considerations for employers who decide to run their own testing on site.

·      Will employees have the choice to be tested or is it mandatory?

·      What happens if an employee refuses to be tested and how best to manage such a refusal?

·      How to manage an employee who tests positive and those they have been in contact with at work?

·      Will there be financial support available for that employee to ensure they self-isolate.

Positive Actions you can take to Respond to the Above Challenges.

·      Consult with employees and explain the importance of testing and the risks of being asymptomatic to them, their colleagues and family. By consulting, educating employees they are more likely to take up the offer of testing.

·      Be prepared to listen to concerns raised by employees about testing, time off work etc.

·      Take advice from professionals on how to administer the testing, how to store and process the information to meet GDPR guidance.

·      Have a plan on what happens if someone tested positive and whether bubbles in the workplace can be created to avoid a large number of employees being told to  self-isolate. This practice is working within schools rather than having a whole year or whole school going into self-isolation.

·      Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme is not meant to be used for short term sickness absence however if an employer decides they have to furlough large groups of people because of business reasons those who are self-isolating can be furloughed. They can’t then receive SSP as they are no longer classed as being off sick. Alternatively, employers can decide to pay Company Sick Pay on a discretionary basis for those who are having to come into the work place and then test positive.

NB; Employees on low incomes may resist voluntary testing if, should they test positive, they will be in receipt of Statutory Sick Pay for the 10 days of self-isolation period.

We recommend employers taking advice to weigh up the case for employees not taking up Covid testing and working with them to create a safe space to work. Employers also need to consider, if there is resistance to Covid Testing by employees whether disciplinary sanctions would be invoked in the case of a refusal.

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Lunar HR are available for help and support in this and any other Employee matters, you can contact our HR advisors in Birmingham.