Despite instructions from the government, which announced that it was "forbidden to carry out generalized screening campaigns in companies", many companies test their employees to find out if they have coronavirus. This is the case of the Veolia company, which has announced that it will subject its 50,000 employees in France to screening tests. "The objective is that employees feel safer in their workplace than anywhere else," explained Europe 1 Antoine Frérot, CEO of the group, justifying this measure.
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"The employer does not know the results"
But Veolia claims to be within its rights. "To my knowledge, this is only a recommendation (the ban on carrying out screenings, note )", replies to the microphone of Europe 1 Jérôme Amar, territory manager. "The employer does not know the results," he said, explaining that the latter are "sent to mailboxes or by mail only to employees, and to the occupational doctor or the attending physician if the employee requests it, and only ". Medical confidentiality is therefore protected, reassures the company
In one of Veolia's centers north of Paris, 200 garbage collectors have agreed to be tested. Before getting into a truck and going to work, everyone followed an arrowed path and underwent a blood test and then a nasal test. "The company made sure to reassure us", recognizes one of the garbage collectors at the microphone of Europe 1.
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"I think it's a good thing"
"There, we can have words to reassure our families. Personally, I could not see my girlfriend for I do not know how long, because there was a risk of contaminating her since we do not live together ", he explains. "I think it's a good thing. I did the test on Saturday morning and I'm negative," said another employee.
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In all, these tests should cost between four and five million euros to Veolia, which has spent around 25 million euros to adapt to the new hygiene standards imposed by the Covid-19.