Manager keeps booking Covid tests for me

[Jimbellselmbath]

We have on site covid testing at my work. No need for symptoms, anybody can have one. A few people go just for 20 minutes away, most don't want one as they do not want to isolate and lose 2 weeks wage (plus partners wage I suppose) if they were to test positive with no symptoms.

Anyway, I don't think they are getting the uptake they anticipated and suspect there are targets managers are being given for testing.
I keep getting texts saying 'your covid test has been booked for xyz' I have not attended any of them.
I had a message on my screen yesterday from my manager saying 'can you do me a favor, I have booked you a covid test for xyz' I still didn't go, manager is off site and there is no way of replying to her.
Today I got a text saying my test has been booked and I must attend even if i do not plan on taking the test (automated type texts- cannot reply)
I don't know whether to go or not. I won't be having the test but I don't think the testers would have any way of stopping these messages as surely they don't have access to that system?
Manager isn't in today, we only cross paths about once a month, i wouldn't know how to contact her outside of this. There are other managers who are more accessible, should I ask those? Is it an HR matter? Do I just keep ignoring the messages as they have not been promoted by me? I feel like complaining about the sneakyness of it all but I don't know who to.
What would you do?

OP I’d do the same. I work for a small company which would be ravaged if we all had to go off. But, if anyone is unwell or feels off we have a stock of the rapid tests and you can use one of you feel the need. I wouldn’t be dictated to like that, but then we’re the sort of company where the MD would come and have a word face to face and if so it if she asked.

*I’d do it if asked.... bloody autocock!

Cockadoodledooo How often do you get tested?

I work in care get one every week regardless. Finding it intrusive but without it I'm not compliant and I need the wage

@Thermo

most don't want one as they do not want to isolate and lose 2 weeks wage (plus partners wage I suppose) if they were to test positive with no symptoms

Such a selfish attitude.

It's not selfish to need to pay your rent and put food on the table.

Fucking hell.

I've read the whole thread. People insisting the OP and others in similar positions must volunteer to have an optional test and go without any income for two weeks because it's a social duty. Expecting others to live on nothing and saying it's a privilege to do so while saying they won't give up £180 or whatever of their own income to do their duty too.

People saying you have to say yes to something that entirely optional and not compulsory or you're a selfish arsehole want to have look in the fucking mirror.

There's be outrage if pensions were stopped for two weeks on a positive test. If you can't afford to lose £180 of it to do your social duty don't demand others take a bigger financial hit because you say so.

If you aren't willing to give up your income and eat beans in toast and left into debts then don't demand others do for you. I say that's as someone who is CEV and on the more anxious side of things. I don't want people pressured or forced into test and even vaccines they don't want. It's not selfish to not volunteer to have optional tests ffs. If regular testing is so important and everyone's social duty then we should all be living on beans and toast and not paying bills to cover our private tests. Cos other people are more important than having roof over our heads and feeding our children.

I got covid yesterday. In some of the texts sent on to me it says that if you will only get SSP whilst isolating , there is a government fund where you can claim £500 to help you financially over the 14 days x

Unfortunately not everyone is eligible for SSP, and it is unclear (based on what is said on the government website) whether the £500 hardship grant is applicable if you have had a private test rather than via 'NHS test and trace'.

Who want to take a bet that op won’t be kept beyond probationary period?

I genuinely cannot get my head around the giant hypocrites expecting others to lose a full 2 weeks wage, fall into debt and go without food and potentially lose their homes in order to "do their bit for society" boldly declaring they don't get tested weekly because they don't want to lose money by paying the £150-180 per week it would cost. I'd laugh if it wasn't so fucking depressing to see how little empathy and compassion so many people clearly have. And don't even get me started on the obvious stupidity for them not to even see the hypocrisy in what they're saying.

Thank Christ for the other few voices of reason on this thread!

As an aside, I work for the NHS and have worked on multiple covid wards, going into rooms with covid positive patients and have never been tested. This is because if they started testing weekly there would be no staff left. You can't have it all ways - what good is saving the NHS if there's no staff to work in it?

And that goes for all places of work. If everywhere started testing asymptomatic staff weekly all essential workplaces would end up closed. It's just not feasible. As others have said, this is why there's no legal requirement to take a test without symptoms.

I’m sure there are some asymptomatic people out there but there can’t be that many. After all even if the OP was an asymptomatic carrier, it would be a big coincidence if her partner or anyone else she lived with also didn’t get symptoms.

My understanding was this type of testing was as much to catch pre-symptomatic positives.

Also, I get that some people will suffer serious hardship if they don’t get paid but in that case what’s the difference with them still coming in if they actually has symptoms - would that be condoned?

Fact: Many asymptomatic people get false negatives. Possibly up to 30%.

One question...does your job depend on taking the test? If so, go. If not, tell your manager that, without symptoms, you cannot afford to quarantine for the two weeks and miss your pay.

what’s the difference with them still coming in if they actually has symptoms - would that be condoned?

No, in that instance it would be unavoidable. What some posters (and the OPs employer) seem to expect is that she will volunteer to increase the likelihood of her facing financial hardship. Whilst simultaneously being unwilling to do so themselves.

Absolutely appalling that the government aren’t insisting on proper pay for those isolating, especially when they can find the money to extend the 80% furlough scheme until March.

Cockadoodledooo How often do you get tested

Hmmm. Not often if the sound of silence is anything to go by. What a surprise...

Why would you not want to have a test, if you are positive is there anybody you wouldn't want to infect?

I’m going to ask every single person this who says the op should voluntarily be tested regularly.....Hillary4 How often do you get tested as I presume there are people you don’t want to infect?

Might be worth seeing if you can block the number so you don't receive the texts anymore

@Caroncarona

Cockadoodledooo How often do you get tested

Hmmm. Not often if the sound of silence is anything to go by. What a surprise...

Did it occur to you that actually some people have better things to do than be on mumsnet 24/7?

You do realise that if you're asymptomatic and pass it on that the person you pass it to may not be so lucky?

We're actually currently lobbying our employer for more regular testing as a number of our team are off (both symptomatic and not). I've also had covid. I wouldn't want to pass it on to the vulnerable people I work with so am fully prepared to isolate as I think it's the responsible thing to do.

@Cockadoodledooo You could pay to have the tests done privately each week, if it's the responsible thing to do! They're about £150-180 depending where you get it done

Cockadoodledooo How often do you get tested?

@SometimesMaybe

If employers want people to be tested (which seems like a sensible approach) then they ought to pay people if they are off with a positive test. Tell them your take the test if they cover your sick leave.

This. Also - how ridiculous that you can’t contact your manager.

@dazzlinghaze because that's so practical and obviously exactly the same as the testing the op is refusing to have

@caroncarona not enough, as I've said. I've been tested 4 times (3 symptomatically, once as a result of contact - at work). I wasn't tested (couldn't get a test) when I actually had it but isolated per the guidance at the time due to symptoms. This was confirmed by an antibody test some months later.

because that's so practical and obviously exactly the same as the testing the op is refusing to have

Well seeing as the op has no requirement to test, because, no symptoms, it's not particularly practical for her either. Plenty of people are not required to test without symptoms, because there would be no work force left if people are then sent home to self isolate.

As the op will not be paid for two weeks if she is sent home, why would she voluntarily sign herself up for that when there's no legal requirement to do so? And if the people here banging on about her doing it as her civil duty, with no regard for her financial hardship, then, as they don't think the loss of wages is important, should also go and sign themselves up for it as well. After all it's only money right.

I wasn't 'banging on' about anything. I stated my opinion which others are obviously free to disagree with. If as the op says she is living her life in as risk free a way as possible then she has nothing to lose (except maybe the constant contact asking her to get tested) by having the test. She won't lose any money for a negative test.