The following guidance relates to candidates who are attending face-to-face interviews at Outdoor and Cycle Concepts, including any of our fascia’s Snow + Rock, Cotswold Outdoor and Runners Need.
Aims:
There are three key aims: Protect, Find and Enable.
Around one in three people who are infected with Covid-19 have no symptoms so could be spreading the disease without knowing it. Testing before your interview will help us find positive cases more quickly, and break chains of transmission. It will also help keep you and our colleagues Covid secure.
Lateral Flow Testing:
- Lateral flow antigen tests are a technology that can be used to test a higher proportion of asymptomatic people, better enabling us to identify and isolate more people who are at high likelihood of spreading the virus, and break the chains of transmission.
- LFTs are rapid turnaround tests that can process COVID-19 samples without the need for laboratory equipment, generating results in under half an hour.
Guidance:
All candidates (for now in England) will be required to take a Lateral Flow Test before their interview (24 hours before at the earliest). The candidate must inform the interviewing manager their test is negative before interview. These tests are simple to use and can be accessed in a number of ways:
- Book a Lateral Flow test in a local test centre. To explore where your nearest centre is please use the following link: https://www.gov.uk/find-covid-19-lateral-flow-test-site –
- Arrange to collect Lateral Flow tests from your local test centre and then perform these tests in your home environment: https://www.gov.uk/find-covid-19-lateral-flow-test-site –
- Order Lateral Flow tests directly to your home using the following link: https://www.gov.uk/order-coronavirus-rapid-lateral-flow-tests.
Candidates will need to follow the instructions provided at the test centre/included within the test packs. Video links are also available which visually show how to complete the tests.
When attending your face-to-face interview:
- You will be asked to sanitise your hands when you enter the building, this is common practice for all our colleagues and customers.
- You must wear a suitable face covering (unless exempt) for the duration of the interview and when moving around the building.
- You must remain socially distanced from colleagues, including the interviewer. The interview room will be set up with social distancing in place and each attendee will be seated at least 2m away from others. Please note, if there are multiple interviewers some may join via video or telephone call so we can maintain social distancing and safe practice.
Reporting Test Results:
If a test was taken at a test centre then the results will be sent to the candidate directly. The candidate must then let the interviewer know the result prior to their interview. For tests undertaken at home, the candidate must submit their result (whether positive or negative) onto the Government portal – instructions on how to set up an account and submit results are included within the test packs. In addition candidates must let the interviewer know their test result before their interview.
If a test is found to be positive then the candidate will be instructed on isolation protocols. The candidate must not attend their interview and let the hiring manager know the interview needs to be rescheduled.
If a test is found to be negative then the candidate can attend their interview but will still need to maintain social distancing.
Compliance:
Candidates who do not wish to take the Lateral Flow Test will not be able to attend their interview in person. They may instead be offered a video interview if appropriate/suitable. If neither of these are possible, we may not be able to continue with the candidate’s application.
Frequently Asked Questions
| Question | Answer |
| I’m confused: how many different types of this technology are out there and what’s the difference between them? | There are two main types of test used to check if people currently have coronavirus. The first type of test is known as a PCR test and looks for the virus’s genetic material (RNA). The second is called a lateral flow antigen test, which looks for parts of the surface of the virus. |
| Are Lateral Flow Tests compulsory? What if I don’t want to take the test? | It is compulsory to take a test before coming to your interview. This is to keep our colleagues safe and minimise the risk of outbreaks. If you do not want to take a test you will not be able to attend a face-to-face interview. |
| Do O&CC colleagues test regularly? Why do I need to take a test when they don’t? | All visitors and guests are tested before entering the store or office (with the exception of customers, who also comply with strict Covid Secure protocols). Colleagues who regularly attend the store or office to undertake work form a work bubble, however, colleagues may test in a personal capacity for various purposes such as childcare or voluntarily. We believe that Health and Safety protocols such as face masks, temperature checks, social distancing, regular sanitising etc. are enough to protect our colleagues and customers and ensure our stores and offices remain a safe environment. We ask that anyone outside of this work bubble get tested before entry to the site. |
| Why should I get tested if I have no symptoms? | The test is designed to detect the level of virus in individuals who do not experience and show any symptoms (they are asymptomatic), but who could still be infectious and pass the virus to others. By taking part in the testing programme, you will help to stop the spread of the virus, protect other people, and save lives. |
| How will I get my results? | If you attend a test site then you will receive your test results by email/text. If you undertake the test at home you will be able to see the outcome of your test. You will also receive a message with your results by text or email, depending on which details you provided when you registered. |