Mandatory Covid test - workplace

[Etherel]

My employer has mandated (via text message, no less) that all staff must take a LFT and provide evidence of this on arrival in a few days' time.

A quick Google search shows that refusing to comply with such a testing requirement may well be considered a disciplinary matter.

I am fully vaccinated and LFTs make me physically sick. Two big reasons why I am considering to protest. But, aside from my personal issues, is this not just too invasive in general?

The new ones I got through the post only need to swap your nose. Is that an option?

That would be much preferred, yes. However, my employer has not provided any new kits. I happen to have one in the house from a few months ago.

I'm not sure how they make you sick if they only go in your nose?

www.gov.uk/order-coronavirus-rapid-lateral-flow-tests

But, aside from my personal issues, is this not just too invasive in general?

Thanks for the more personal advice, however, my question was more about the above.

I don’t think it’s ridiculous request to be honest. If it helps keeps workplaces safe. Covid cases will rise when schools get back and they are at a high level already. Vaccinated people can still catch Delta as we know now immunity from infection starts to wane.

Im NHS staff been doing ones for ages and we only do the nose. So just do that maybe. Order some online from the link they come the next day.

[quote CaptainMarvelous]www.gov.uk/order-coronavirus-rapid-lateral-flow-tests[/quote]
Yes just order some more they just go up your nose now which is so much better for those who have a strong gag reflex.

@Etherel

But, aside from my personal issues, is this not just too invasive in general?

Thanks for the more personal advice, however, my question was more about the above.

What is the problem with doing them though? I'm not saying you don't have a point just trying to understand your objections.

No, it’s not too invasive. They’re doing what they can to protect their workforce.

I'd love my employer to do this. Good for yours!

If they aren't watching you do the LFT then the course of least resistance is to do one but up the nose only. For small DCs they say you can do both nostrils rather than throat and one nostril so that should be almost as good.

It's way less invasive than mandating vaccinations. Since you are vaccinated, I really can't see your point of view.

No one likes doing them, but surely for a minutes discomfort once a week it is worth to keep your workplace and more vulnerable colleagues safe ?
And you know that a vaccine isn’t 100% immunity won’t stop you passing on the virus.
How about doing something for the greater good? Is it that onerous?

Sounds reasonable to me

We’ve had to do them twice weekly since LFT testing started, so many many months now. I just do my nose, as per NHS guidelines. I work in healthcare. My boyfriends workplace has requested twice weekly LFT too, non medical, so they can early identify any positive cases and send them home at the earliest opportunity to reduce infection.

I don’t see sticking a cotton bud up your nostrils as especially invasive but maybe that’s just me. It’s not like they’re wanting blood tests.

I see it as a civic responsibility rather than a gross invasion of my privacy.

Sounds eminently sensible to me. I’m in teaching, we’ve been doing them for months. Obviously it’s horrible for you to be physically sick, but if you order the nose only ones, then that should remove some of the most unpleasant aspects of taking them.

A ballroom dance class I attend has recently reopened, and we have to provide a negative test result to attend, also sensible.

Some friends on the continent have got to provide negative test results in order to eat at a restaurant, which given how cases are spiking here in busy areas, also seems sensible.

Just do it up your nose and get back to work.

Order yourself a box of LFT's - they are free and my last one arrived in 24 hours and was the new nasal only swab which is so much easier to use.

Just do your nose - it's what we do for young children and seems to work ok.

I would love my employer to have this rule, it's very sensible.

You may be double jabbed but others night not be.
You can still catch it and pass it on.
You can still catch it from others infected at work. - are you happy working with people possibly infected?
Just because you are double jabbed doesn't guarantee that you won't be really quite ill if you do catch it.

I think your employer is being very sensible.

Sounds good to me.

Going against the flow I do think it's a bit ridiculous - lateral flow tests can show negatives for days before showing a positive in people who have had known close contact to a covid positive person, you might have it, get a negative lateral flow then go into work anyway! Personally I'd prefer businesses kept safety and hygiene measures in place rather than enforce testing (and the lateral flows although highly accurate in a lab environment are less accurate at home when people don't follow instructions properly!).

Before agreeing I'd ask them - what is the process for testing if another staff member is positive who previously had a negative lateral flow? What will absences be recorded as as a result of a positive lateral flow? Will they be providing kits? How will your testing data be stored and used?

They need to put any policy in writing ideally after consultation with employees,

The new ones are nasal only. My ds has to do the same at work. Tbh they make everyone feel sick but it's over soon enough and such little inconvenience to help keep everything going.

I don't see an issue with it personally, but I'm not sure if they can mandate something like this with no notice or consultation period?

Do the nasal only ones look different?
We've been doing them for the DCs schools since Jan and we are still doing throat and nose but I'd prefer nose only.