Lateral flow test request for interview

[Zig27]

I have been invited to an interview in a school where they have said in the invite 'if you could kindly do a lateral flow test the night before your interview that will much be appreciated'. For personal reasons I don't do lateral flow tests but I will wear a mask.

I don’t want to get into the whole argument of doing the test etc. Can they refuse me to do the interview? I'm already feeling pressured and have not been asked to do this at other places.

It's their school, I guess they can make their own rules. School staff have to do lateral flow tests at the moment so it might be seen as obstructive....

In our school you had to do a lateral flow upon arrival. This is to safeguard children and staff who are having an extra 10 people in the bubble and significantly increasing their chance of catching covid.

All our staff are taking tests.

Probably not the job for you if you won't take one.

Well if the job is for a job in a school you'll have to do lateral flow tests anyway won't you? They're really easy to do, but I would imagine that yea they could well refuse you the interview but also the job if you're going to refuse to do them.

I don't think they'll ask you to prove you've done one but I probably wouldn't be applying for jobs in schools if you can't take a test.

Yeah, probably not the job for you

Yeah school job you’ll be required to test anyway so I’d suggest rethinking your personal reasons or not go to the interview.

Can you do nose only OP? I struggle with the throat ones but as I work in a school I have to do them, on really bad days I will do the nose only and try again with throat the next day.

They maybe can't/won't refuse you an interview to avoid any hassle but I suspect it would rule you out as a serious candidate anyway as you would be needing to do them for as long as the tests are a thing, schools will be one of the last workplaces to drop doing them, I think.

Sorry posted too quick no I suppose they can’t refuse the interview , I doubt they’d ask for proof you could just say yes I’ve tested but like I say you’d be required to test regularly if you got the job .

I work in a school and I'm required to do 2 tests a week which must be logged with the office as well as the gov website. Likewise my DS has to test at the same time (different school, secondary). I think it may be a deal breaker.

I think it's fair that they do everything in their power to keep Covid out of the school (however unreliable the tests are they have to work with the tools they have).

Your decision and I appreciate there are reasons why you may not be able to do one but given that it should be their right not to interview you

I guess if you can't do two lateral flow tests a week you won't be able to do the job? Like my friend who is a paramedic, her colleague couldn't wear a mask so had to change roles.

Eerrrr so what are you going to do if you get the job. All teachers have to do two weekly lateral flow tests. Absolutely agree with their request. If you want to refuse don't attend and look for a different career.

If you have ‘personal reasons’ for not doing a LFT test I wouldn’t want you working in my children’s school. Might sound harsh, but that’s the reality.

I have quite a degree of scepticism regarding the reliability of LFTs themselves, but the concept of regular testing of staff, the fact that they have picked up cases that would otherwise be missed, and the fact that this is a key policy intervention mean as far as I see it, it’s not an optional requirement. If you want to work in a school you need to comply.

Thanks for the input. I have decided to cancel the interview. I know people who don’t do lateral flow tests and work in schools so each school has their own rules. I think I’ll see what other jobs I can do out there.

Just remember testing may become something people do instead of isolating, so may be necessary wherever you end up working

To be honest, it’s just good manners at the moment. If I were going for a face to face interview anywhere I would do a LFT. If I were going into the office to meet a colleague I would also do a LFT. If I were meeting a friend, likewise.

@Zig27

Thanks for the input. I have decided to cancel the interview. I know people who don’t do lateral flow tests and work in schools so each school has their own rules. I think I’ll see what other jobs I can do out there.

Seems sensible.

FWIW everyone I know who works in schools (several people over several schools) all do twice weekly LFT.

I had to do one yesterday to be allowed into my DC3 new nursery class (at a school). All the parents had to produce a negative LFT. It wasn't nice and I'm in no rush to do another.

Only other test I've had was a PCR on admission with DC3 for a planned 3 night stay. The nurse did it on both me and DC and she was so bloody good it barely registered... doing it to myself was horrid.

Why would you even think about working in a school if you won't do LFTs? Like a PP said, I wouldn't want you working in my child's school if you weren't prepared to do everything possible to keep them safe.
Good decision to withdraw.

Your decision. You deal with the consequences. I wouldn't want someone so selfish near my children either.

Well done for cancelling. If you’re not prepared to do the test it’s not right to work there. School staff strive to protect the children and each other.

@Geamhradh

Your decision. You deal with the consequences. I wouldn't want someone so selfish near my children either.

I said I’m not here to argue and others didn’t agree with my decision but were respectful and helpful to explain.

And others have said the same as me.

I work in datacentres and have to take one before entry every time so I am doing 5 or 6 a week - everyone in the IT industry is doing similar so I think this is a pretty common request. Not the job for you if you don't want to do them as this will be the case all over next winter I imagine.