The federal government has obliged companies to offer their employees corona tests.
You can find out what the test offer means for companies and employees here.
With the amendment to the existing SARS-CoV-2 occupational health and safety regulation, the federal government has a so-called
test obligation for companies
throughout Germany
introduced.
This, together with the vaccinations *, is intended to break the rapid spread of the coronavirus, especially the British virus variant B.1.1.7.
Answers to the most important questions at a glance:
How often do companies have to offer corona tests?
From April 20, 2021, companies are obliged to
submit a test offer to
all employees who do not work permanently in the home office
at least once per calendar
week
.
This obligation applies until the end of the intended test period, currently the end of June 2021.
Personnel with a
particularly high risk of infection
must be given at least two tests per calendar week.
Above all, this includes employees
with a lot of personal customer contact,
Employees who perform body-hugging services (such as in cosmetic studios or massage parlors) and
Employees who are housed in shared accommodation.
Which corona tests are allowed?
The ordinance of the Federal Ministry of Labor enables all tests that provide direct pathogen detection of the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus.
This means that both
rapid antigen
tests
, in which trained personnel carry out a swab
test
, as well as
self-tests
or
PCR tests
are
permitted
.
Companies can get support, for example from pharmacies.
+
Companies must offer their employees corona tests.
© Robert Michael / dpa
Is there a test requirement for employees?
Do employees have to be tested?
Any employee who wants to can do a corona test in the workplace - but does not have to.
A test obligation, more precisely a test offer obligation, exists only for employers, not for employees.
"The legal hurdles for compulsory testing are very high," said a ministry spokesman.
“The duty to cooperate of employees in occupational safety would not cover such a test obligation.” However, the federal government appeals to take advantage of the test offers from employers.
Also interesting:
Corona test obligation for companies: Do all employees have to be tested now?
What should the corona tests bring in the workplace?
The ordinance of the Federal Ministry of Labor justifies the new obligation to reduce the "operational SARS-CoV-2 infection risk".
Rapid tests help
to detect infected people who are not yet experiencing any symptoms
.
From a scientific point of view, however, a negative test cannot rule out an infection.
As the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) reports, be it with a negative test
"Just less likely" to be contagious to others.
According to the current scientific status, the test results are only
meaningful for one day
.
Criticism has already been raised that one or two tests a week would not be enough.
More about this:
Corona: How high is the risk of infection in the office - and what are the benefits of tests?
Who pays for the corona tests?
The employers bear the costs for the corona tests offered as part of their duty of care.
Companies that are particularly burdened can, however, claim the expenses as part of an application for bridging aid.
The federal government expects costs of
130 euros per employee
by the end of the test period at the end of June.
(as) * Merkur.de is an offer from IPPEN.MEDIA
.
More on the topic:
Corona emergency brake: Do hairdressers have to close again?
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Source: bmas.de, bundesregierung.de, tagesschau.de
Salary: The ten highest paid professions for white-collar workers
Salary: The ten highest paid professions for white-collar workers
List of rubric lists: © Robert Michael / dpa
