Guidance

We Offer Testing to our Staff (WOTTOS): endorsement scheme

Updated 17 May 2021

Applies to England

Introduction

The We Offer Testing to our Staff (WOTTOS) endorsement scheme is a simple and free voluntary promotional scheme for firms who are participating in the government’s free coronavirus (COVID-19) workplace testing programme and offer regular twice weekly testing to their staff. The scheme showcases those organisations that offer regular testing for their employees through displaying an easily recognisable and NHS Test and Trace branded physical and/or virtual sticker.

Around 1 in 3 people with COVID-19 show no symptoms, so anyone could be spreading it without knowing. Regular testing helps identify staff who are carrying the virus without displaying symptoms, reducing the risk of transmission.

As part of a nationally recognised scheme, displaying either a physical and/or virtual sticker offers employees and customers greater reassurance and confidence that participating firms are going above and beyond their safer workplace legal duties, to improve the safety of their premises for their staff and customers.

Employers who have already offered testing have benefited from the significant positive media coverage related to their testing programmes.

Eligibility criteria

Businesses that are eligible are those that:

• are using the free government supplied COVID-19 test kits, either for workplace asymptomatic test sites (ATSs) testing or Workforce Collect, and
• have registered before April 12 and subsequently self-declare their involvement

There is no minimum company size requirement.

Businesses accessing testing through the Universal Offer routes (such as Pharmacy Collect, community testing and LFT Direct) are unable to access the scheme as the WOTTOS scheme showcases to employees and customers that an organisation is directly offering testing to their staff.

We support all organisations to encourage staff to access testing through the different channels.

Whilst the scheme is currently for those offering NHS Test and Trace tests, we will be looking to expand the scheme to cover validated testing programmes (that is, paying for tests privately) in due course.

Displaying of promotional materials

For businesses registered and signed up for workplace testing before 12 April, promotional materials are available on the ordering platform where organisations order their NHS Test and Trace workplace tests. Organisations are able to access these assets following registration of interest in the government’s free workplace testing offer. In addition, physical assets will be subsequently printed by the Department of Health and Social Care (in appropriate quantities) and sent to organisations who are part of the scheme.

Businesses have discretion as to where promotional materials are displayed and featured best for their organisation. This may be at the front of a store, at point of sale (for example, checkout areas) or on websites or social media.

Enquiries regarding concerns over potential misuse of promotional materials

Anyone concerned about the potential fraudulent use of WOTTOS stickers and businesses misinforming customers over a service they do not provide should report the misuse to the Citizens Advice consumer service.

For any questions regarding the scheme, email: queries.weoffertesting@dhsc.gov.uk