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?

@DinosaurGrrrrr

I think people telling the op to “just go and get the test done” “don’t be so selfish” etc don’t understand how hard some people might have it. If you live month by month and have to take 2 weeks off unpaid plus potentially the person you live with also having to isolate for 2 weeks unpaid, where exactly does that money to cover the mortgage, rent etc come from? Not everyone has savings. I can totally understand why someone who isn’t displaying symptoms who knows they won’t be paid to take 2 weeks off and may end up with a mark against them for being absent during a probationary period may want to avoid a test.

I personally would be happy to take regular tests but I know that if I was positive I could continue to work from home and my income would not be impacted. Many people are replying from their own point of view in their own situation, not thinking about op’s situation. I get where op is coming from in her position, I would probably try to avoid a test too if I really couldn’t afford time off.

No. You’re missing the bigger picture. If we reduce the number of asymptomatic carriers spreading the disease, more people can work. If someone acts selfishly, it spoils it for everyone. It’s really that simple.

Don't get tested if you don't have symptoms.

putting your head in the sand doesn't make you any safer. it makes you more of a risk to your family, friends and anyone you unfortunately pass in the shop. I'd love to be frequently tested so I could be sure I wasn't putting anyone at risk.

Honestly you're still on probation. I would not want to get a reputation as difficult and awkward when they can let you go for any reason🙄

It's really that simple.

No it is not.

Unless you want anarchy in the UK. There have been callers to radio programmes (LBC etc). Landlords who have not received rents as a DIRECT result of people losing money due Covid 19. One landlord is £26 000 down.

Should everyone stop paying rents and mortgages?

Should everyone stop paying electricity and water bills?

Insurance and gas?

Commercial landlord associations are up in arms as commercial tenants (typical food and clothes shops on the High Street) are unable to pay rents. They are turning to CVAs (commercial voluntary arrangements) to avoid rent payments.

I didn’t suggest that. Just pointing out the obvious thing that if CV19 carriers didn’t spread the disease further, fewer people would need to self isolate. (And so could continue to work, pay bills, etc.)

Op you need to speak to someone and find out the purpose of the testing. Burying your head in the sand isn’t getting you anywhere and you can’t keep ignoring this. It may well be a condition of your employment that you have to undertake regular testing and it may not, but you need to find out the reasoning behind this and make an informed decision.

I also think that if you actually attended a test your manager would stop booking you in for them. Just talk to someone.

That is the natural conclusion to what you and others are insisting on PP.

It is already occurring in the commercial world.

Missed the probation part, yeah your showing your not able to follow simple requests.
You've said that there are management on site, so go and speak to them.

Of course it’s happening. Because people like the OP and you don’t understand the importance of testing people without symptoms.

What you’re describing is the natural conclusion to the government’s reluctance to properly financially compensate people who have to isolate.

Go for the test

You do realise that if you test positive but have no symptoms you will be passing it onto your immediate family, or anyone else you may come into contact with at work, in the shops etc

Everyone has a responsibility to get this virus stopped. If my workplace did this I would be going

How is it not clear to all the people who can't see why OP would avoid taking these tests?

She will not be paid if she is off work isolating. She is still on probation in her job and whether this absence would extend that period. There is no legal requirement to undergo regular testing when you have no symptoms. By some of your standards, she is expected to take that extra step, to possible great financial disadvantage to herself, for the greater good of society. Well that's grand if you're in a position to do that, i.e, you are in a secure job, with plentiful savings, can take the hit on loss of earnings. Not everyone is so fortunate.

OP, it's not your responsibility to shoulder the wellbeing of the rest of society. You work in a socially distanced workplace - 2-5m distance at all times between yourself and colleagues. You wear a mask all day. You have no other social contacts. I don't think you're doing anything unreasonable by refusing the tests.

Whether this will bring you a reputation as a difficult character and whether that's something worth avoiding are separate issues.

@Ballsdeep00

@ivykaty44 yes then tell the manager you've had it and it's negative

No don’t lying

It’s not selfish to not take a test if you don’t have symptoms. If they want their staff tested they need to give full pay while they self isolate if the test is positive. The OP needs to eat, to pay rent. SSP is not enough. It’s not selfish to keep a roof over your head and pay your bills.

@Caroncarona

The op doesn't need to have a test if she has no symptoms. So if this is the case, then her reasons are nothing to do with anyone else. The answer is simply no.

This.

The employers must pay 100% of wages and no disciplinary items on file. It's that simple.

Why on earth wouldnt you get tested weekly? You could wipe out the factory by being a non symptomatic carrier.

Why on earth wouldnt you get tested weekly? You could wipe out the factory by being a non symptomatic carrier.

Gosh, anyone would think the answer to that question isn't here, right in this thread

It is selfish if it turns out your asystematic, spreading the virus among the community.

But don't worry, it's not down to you to shoulder the wellbeing of others... Good grief, and people wonder why were in the mess we are now!

Believe it or not. Wiping out the income from the last remaining employed people in a society is not good for that society.

If the current government decrees that NO mortgages or rents need to be paid by employed people (and no chasing further down the line for back payments), then perhaps people would be happy to be tested every week/every to weeks.

Really there is no point a workplace offering regular testing unless they are also going to have a package in place to protect those who need to isolate both financially and job security wise.

No way would I take the test, what a nerve, they don't own you.

@Sirzy

Really there is no point a workplace offering regular testing unless they are also going to have a package in place to protect those who need to isolate both financially and job security wise.

Absolutely

Sirzy

That's exactly what the government have told employers to consider if they wish to introduce testing.

The testing process

Before deciding to test staff

Before deciding to establish a testing programme,employersare advised that they are clear on:

who the testing will cover – for example, whether this is all directly employed staff, or includes individuals working onsite, like contractorswhat the focus of the programme is: staff with symptoms or without symptoms

how often staff will be tested

appropriate facilities for carrying out the tests

which test should be used (to be clear, virus tests are designed to detect active infection whereas antibody tests only reveal evidence of previous infection)

what the arrangements will be for any individual who does not wish to be tested

how the employer will use test results, including its policies on matters like handling health information, absence from work, self-isolation, diversity, non-discrimination, and so on,

the compatibility of the programme with its legal responsibilities to staff including under health and safety, equalities, data protection and employment law.

the affordability of implementing a testing programme