Firm bans staff from using track and trace app at work
EMPLOYEES TOLD TO SWITCH OFF THIER BLUETOOTH SETTINGS
A HULL based company has banned its staff from using the coronavirus track and trace app at work.
Staff at JR Rix & Sons Ltd have been told to switch off the bluetooth settings on their phones while at work.
The company issued a notice to its employees stating that using the app while at work could have a “significant impact” on its staff and the business.
They say this is due to the fact that many colleagues could receive a message telling them to self-isolate which would result in the business “not being able to function” and putting people’s jobs at risk.
The notice reads: “Unfortunately, the NHS Contact Tracing App does not take into account Covid-19 measures that have been put in place by JR Rix & Sons Ltd.
“It is possible that – despite the e many measures put in place to man- age the risk of Covid-19 transmis- sion at each location – we could d have many people all receiving a message via the app telling them m to self-isolate, when in reality the e likelihood of transmission is low.
“This will have a significant impact on both you, the individual, and the business and has the potential to occur repeatedly.
“This would result in the business, in many areas, not being able to function; ultimately putting people’s jobs at risk.”
Staff were reminded of the company’s “mobile devices at work” policy which states that use of mobile phones for anything other than busi
ness related activity is not allowed.
The company has now amended that policy to include those who have downloaded the track and trace app citing that an employee must have the bluetooth setting switched off while they are at work.
The notice continues: “To mitigate the negative impacts of personnel being notified of a potentially incorrect ‘high-risk encounter’ in the work place JR Rix & Sons Ltd have taken the decision that all mobile phones must have the bluetooth setting on their mobile device switched off when the employee is in a work setting.
“You may be asked to demon
strate s that the bluetooth is switched off by showing your settings screen on your phone.”
Banning personal mobile phones i in the workplace was an option cons sidered by the company who instead chose to ask all staff to disable the bluetooth setting as a “preferable measure”.
“Any staff member who is found to have their bluetooth enabled - or who is unwilling to demonstrate that their bluetooth is switched off while in the workplace, may be subject to disciplinary action.”