Testing and managers

TheStrangler · Post by **TheStrangler** » 26 Apr 2020, 14:41

In light of tests slowly being made available for key workers...

If you have coronavirus symptoms and self isolate, testing is supposedly voluntary and confidential...
So when a manager speaks to you on phone and asks if you're having the test are you obliged to inform him?
If you do, is he then in due course entitled to ask you for the result?
Suppose you decline to tell him it'd be safe for him to assume that if you'd tested positive you'd therefore obviously tell him and continue your absence until recovered.
However if you returned to work having told him you'd been tested he'd assume you'd not had coronavirus (even if you refused to tell him the result) and therefore the absence is not voided from counting towards your attendance record.
In view of the tests being available (if you can get one) is the policy the same,
i.e it was coronavirus related because you suspected you had it and self isolated to protect your colleagues,
Or, as you were tested and it was negative it wasn't the virus and therefore was flu or another bug and as such would count towards your attendance procedure?
Rm policy change coming??

Woody Guthrie · Post by **Woody Guthrie** » 26 Apr 2020, 14:59

Do I have to share a copy of my test results to my manager?

Your manager will request to be updated with the test result. It is the individual’s responsibility to communicate their own, or their household member’s, test result to their employer and together discuss a return to work.

We do hope as part of the role we all have in preventing the spread of coronavirus that employees who test positive inform their manager who can support their absence and ensure unit cleaning where appropriate

.

As you can see it's quite a coercive line they're taking.
Personally I would either refuse to be tested or if you feel it would benefit you then arrange one yourself.

To be honest there's only a three day window from the onset of symptoms to get tested so I can't see it getting done often.

FacesOfStone · Post by **FacesOfStone** » 26 Apr 2020, 15:01

The official advice is to isolate for 7/14 days while symptomatic regardless of the test result. These things aren’t flawless, especially when it comes to negative results; knowing of a positive, on the other hand, could be very helpful for an employer.

If people are getting rushed back / feeling like they need to rush back because of a negative, we’re about to enter considerably more dangerous waters.

TONY MELON · Post by **TONY MELON** » 26 Apr 2020, 16:36

Been told by manager if you don't get tested you'll won't be paid and if test results are negative need to be back to work next day

noggin1969 · Post by **noggin1969** » 26 Apr 2020, 16:40

Not sure you'll need testing

TheStrangler · Post by **TheStrangler** » 26 Apr 2020, 16:49

TONY MELON wrote:Been told by manager if you don't get tested you'll won't be paid and if test results are negative need to be back to work next day

That's kind of the line I think they'll take, especially bearing in mind who's running the show at present.
Perhaps the best way would be to tell them it's not compulsory and besides it's confidential.
So theoretically you could be tested and refuse to share the result.
Actually in worse case it'd go down as a normal sick absence and as such you would indeed still get paid!
If you feel lousy you feel lousy end of.

Grumpyoldmailman · Post by **Grumpyoldmailman** » 26 Apr 2020, 18:33

You will be waiting 14 days for a test the way they are going about it.

themailman · Post by **themailman** » 26 Apr 2020, 19:56

Flashman_ · Post by **Flashman_** » 26 Apr 2020, 19:57

FacesOfStone wrote:The official advice is to isolate for 7/14 days while symptomatic regardless of the test result. These things aren’t flawless, especially when it comes to negative results; knowing of a positive, on the other hand, could be very helpful for an employer.

If people are getting rushed back / feeling like they need to rush back because of a negative, we’re about to enter considerably more dangerous waters.

My thoughts exactly, in general the government pushing this as a way of getting people back to work is,I think very confusing of the original advice. No matter what the result of a test if people have any symptoms they should still isolate. I think this latest push by the government is only so they can meet the target they set themselves for tests. Its misguided and can potentially lead to a second peak in cases if people go back to work simply because of a negative result.(the test is not 100% reliable remember)

portadown · Post by **portadown** » 27 Apr 2020, 23:04

Heard today that unit managers were not getting there bonus again this year what a shame

richietns · Post by **richietns** » 28 Apr 2020, 07:28

They having to actually work a bit harder as well in my depot anyway lol.

cpsteve · Post by **cpsteve** » 28 Apr 2020, 19:33

Why would you not want to give the result of a test? It takes two days for the result if you are positive it protects others from catching it if its negative and as a family member you have no symptoms then you go back to work. If you are not well enough to work then you dont work virus or no virus.

Woody Guthrie · Post by **Woody Guthrie** » 28 Apr 2020, 19:50

cpsteve wrote:Why would you not want to give the result of a test? It takes two days for the result if you are positive it protects others from catching it if its negative and as a family member you have no symptoms then you go back to work. If you are not well enough to work then you dont work virus or no virus.

Because it may be a false negative.
You may have Covid-19.
You may give it to half the office.
You may kill some people.