CORONAVIRUS - WORKPLACE - 28.05.2020

Coronavirus: workplace screening

The CEO of Amazon has announced that the company intends to regularly test its staff for coronavirus. Could you implement a similar policy and insist that your staff are tested too?

Written notice. In his annual letter to shareholders, Jeff Bezos, the CEO of Amazon, stated that the company was looking to introduce “regular coronavirus testing for all staff” , including for those who showed no obvious symptoms. Apparently, the company has now assembled a full team of scientists, software engineers and managers who will build and run Amazon’s internal coronavirus testing facility.

Over to you. Unlike Amazon, smaller businesses in the UK don’t have unlimited financial resources. However, there are coronavirus testing facilities available - some people will be eligible for free NHS testing; those who aren’t can use private testing services. So, should you insist that all of your staff undergo coronavirus testing to protect them and your business?

Restrictions. As the law currently stands, businesses can’t generally insist that staff submit to any mandatory health screening or test. The same is true for vaccinations. The exception to testing is where there’s a health and safety risk which the business needs to manage, e.g. alcohol or drugs testing where an employee drives or operates certain vehicles or machinery. To insist that all staff undergo a coronavirus test would be problematic at this time. Neither could you prevent staff from returning to work if they haven’t been tested.

By choice. It’s quite possible that one or more of your staff may wish to undergo a coronavirus test for their own peace of mind. Should they do so they would be under no obligation to share the result with you. If they did the result would be classed as “sensitive data” under the GDPR and be processed accordingly.

Tip. If an employee isn’t eligible for a free coronavirus test on the NHS, you are under no obligation to pay for them to have a private test. As these services start at around £100 for a home testing kit the cost would soon add up, even across a small workforce.

You can’t insist that staff are tested for coronavirus or ask them to submit to regular screening. If an employee wishes to be tested but isn’t eligible for a free NHS test, you don’t have to pay for a private test.

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