PM hosts workplace Covid-19 testing lab
We enlisted the help of two occupational nurses to carry out more than 60 tests at our offices. The tests were made available to all Purpose Media employees and members of their households.
The Covid-19 test, which is CE marked for use only by healthcare professionals, identifies the body’s response to coronavirus after the onset of infection, giving a yes or no result within ten minutes. A finger-prick sample of blood is taken, which is then put into the test cassette to check whether there are any coronavirus antibodies present.
Of the 67 tests carried out on the day, two were positive.
Testing was done in the board room, in accordance with the Government’s coronavirus safety and social distancing guidelines.
We have also redesigned the layout of our offices, including installing safety signs, to ensure that it complies with social distancing measures when the team eventually returns to work.
Coronavirus Testing at Purpose Media HQ
Managing Director Matt Wheatcroft said: “We were pleased to be able to provide coronavirus testing to all our staff and members of their household who wanted it, to help provide peace of mind.
“Like all businesses, coronavirus has had an impact but as a responsible employer, the health and wellbeing of our employees remains a priority. Offering them the opportunity to get tested is just one of the ways we are looking after the team.
“We’re also thinking ahead to when the office might reopen by investing in our workspace to ensure that if, and when, the guys do want to come back in, we’ve got the appropriate social distancing measures in place to accommodate the whole team safely. People can feel isolated in lockdown, so we’ve been running various initiatives to keep our team connected, including a weekly Zoom social to keep morale up.
“This new, more agile way of working has actually seen our productivity increase during lockdown so moving forward, we’ll be building more flexibility into the business for staff, in terms of the hours they want to work and where they want to work from.
“This means they will be able to continue to work remotely if they want but know that when they want to come into the office, they can do so in the safest way possible.”