Workplace Fitness Testing

[Workaholic2015]

I work in an admin role at a construction company and today received an email from the managing director stating that all employees are going to be subject to a fitness test, blood pressure and heart rate check, weight and BMI check and finally a bleep test to ensure our fitness levels are suitable.

Surely this can not be legal?

I personally don't have any issues with my fitness but I can see some of the admin personnel in here being particularly upset at having to be put through this? I can maybe see the point for the trades staff who can be doing a very physical job, however for office based staff?

I just wonder if anyone knows the legalities of this?

[woofgang]

What does it say in your terms and conditions of employment?

[Workaholic2015]

absolutely nothing about fitness testing...

[Gavmacp]

What is the point of this? Who gets to know the information and once they have the information what are they going to do with it?

[Old_Geezer]

I've known such tests to be part of the process when applying for a job. I've not encountered it during the job. But employers seem to be able to do whatever they like these days. I suppose it could be justified if a certain job needed a certain level of fitness, perhaps on an annual basis, but I don't see why it should be done on a whim. Admin usually requires one to be fit enough to sit at a desk. Legally I'd not know; sorry.

[woofgang]

Does it talk generally about health management and fitness for work? Does the company provide any kind of health insurance sickness payment?

[fiction-factory]

It is legal.
If they become aware of issues that you hadn't told them about previously they could make suitable adjustments and bear it in mind when allocating existing or new duties.
The info should be useful to the employees too.

[fiction-factory]

A decent manager though would have explained the reasons in my view as there will always be people who jump to the wrong conclusion. Of course conspiracy theoriy supporters may disbelieve the reasons given so you probably can't please everyone

[woofgang]

sorry, more thoughts. The first thing I think always to consider when this kind of thing pops up is how much you like your job and how far you will go to keep it. If, in the end you will go ahead and have the assessment, then there is no point getting a name for being a trouble maker along the way.
If you do want to question it then I would suggest a polite letter back asking what has triggered the announcement, what level of fitness will be considered appropriate for your job (you might ask for a matrix of levels of fitness for all jobs in the company if you want to be really arsey), what the outcome would be for declining the company's offer of fitness testing, are any of the company's staff (including the MD) exempt from such testing and if so what are the grounds for exemption. If you have got a union or professional body, I would also be contacting them. I don't think it can be enforced unless its in the employment T and C but will go and do some research.

[woofgang]

This might help. It describes the components of a "proper" fitness for work system and is clear that the criteria for a pass MUST vary with the demands of the job. In order for the test to be mandatory it must be part of the T and C of the role. If it is "health promotion" and not fitness for work then it can be declined by the employee.
In order to comply with confidentiality, the health assessments must be done by a health professional and the employer is only entitled to know "fit", "not fit" or "fit with restrictions"
before implementing a fitness for work program, risk assessments should have been done of all jobs in order to ensure correct and fair application of criteria.
http://www.ogp.org.uk/pubs/470.pdf

[woofgang]

PS, take a look at p15 and the appendices :)

[fiction-factory]

That brings back memories, Woofgang. I worked for a company where there were quite a few what you'd call 'arsey' employees who would write 5 page letters and demand meetings over every change. I remember the fuss when we decided to replace a metal waste paper bin with a plastic one... went on for weeks. And there were those who refused to use PCs/printers/copiers until we could get medical experts and scientists to do radiation and other checks

[woofgang]

I have seen both sides FF, I have managed "challenging" employees and also worked for psychotic senior managers.

[Workaholic2015]

This makes quite interesting reading! Thanks everyone.

I guess I just need to wait and see when the official letter comes out giving the proposals and the 'further info' he states we will receive.

[fiction-factory]

Yes. Maybe we worked at the same place!

[woofgang]

If your MD is sending this stuff around before the official information comes out then he is an idiot.

[woofgang]

NHS ff

[lcg]

unless it is in your t+c, or requred for the job (e.g. army, police, fire, ambulance staff etc.) then i suggest you tell your employer the fuff off. no way would i subject myself to this, and tey are eing more than unreasonable in asking you to do this. join a union NOW (unless you are already a member) and dig your heels in. i am a nurse and not subject to this kind of scrutiny, even though my job is very physical. an employer is not allowed to undertake tests of this kind and keep the results on file - as has already been stated, they may write the rules for what level of fitness they require and hire someone to test staff, but they do not have the right to keep such sensitive data about you. acas and a union would love to get their teeth into a case such as this - i suggest you contact them monday.

[Towicrossfit]

Yeah i know all rules related to this scheme, but you can see all in details at http://www.theonlywayiscrossfit.com/
On this site, everything is declared or related to this rule. Media URL: http://www.theonlywayiscrossfit.com/
Description:

[aahanakapoor]

I think workplace fitness testing is important for employees healthy lifestyle.