FAO Gal

[miasmum]

do you know anything about employees and eye tests?

In my previous Practice we gave the receipt to the Practice Manager and she refunded so much and when I worked at school we got a voucher for a free eye test.

The surgery I work in now tell me, they don't cover anything like that.

Someone told me it is actually employment law if you are using a computer screen more than so many hours a day?

[Diflower]

It's not Gal it's me
http://www.workingrights.co.uk/should-c ... tests.html
Hope that helps

[miasmum]

Thanks Di, but all that does is refer to 'the Act' it doesn't specify what the Act is or how many hours etc. I have googled but can't find anything clear

[meriad]

Well it does say:

The Act mentions issues such as the employee needing to use a visual display unit (VDU) for continuous spells in periods of over one hour; where the transfer of information between the employee and their VDU is key to their job.

It also says:

If you have an eye test and the optician says you need glasses for the sole purpose of working on the computer, you can ask your company to pay for or at least contribute to your glasses.

I seem to recall that it also depends on the number of employees a company has; but not sure about that - I think it's a cut off of 10?

As a matter of interest; how much time do you spend on the computer at work? In total and in one stretch?

[Gal]

Hi MM - from experience, I'd say yes generally an employer should pay towards glasses, but only if the employee is wearing them for work alone - so your employer might pay for a basic pair for example, but if you want to buy some better ones to wear at home, then that's your choice

HTH

[miasmum]

I don't want them to pay for my glasses Gal, but I think they should cover the £21.50 eye test personally

I spend 7 hours a day 3 days a week at my VDU (what a lovely old fashioned word VDU is)

[Diflower]

Since I left work I've just waited for a free eye test voucher to appear in the local paper, they're pretty regular.
Failing that, all the opticians do seem to offer £10 tests regularly too
At work I did already need glasses, but my job was completely computer-based so we did get a voucher for the test.

[Gal]

I don't want them to pay for my glasses Gal, but I think they should cover the £21.50 eye test personally

I spend 7 hours a day 3 days a week at my VDU (what a lovely old fashioned word VDU is)

You should press for that MM - we do get people who work in offices coming in with vouchers for sight tests and specs, many companies do foot the bill for this. Or reimburse you for your test.

[meriad]

Shell, you definitely are entitled to the eye test being paid for - and as far as I am aware given the number of hours you are working on the computer you are also entitled to £50 towards glasses.

if I've got time today I'll do some digging about on the internet and see if I can find anything

[miasmum]

Thank Ria and everyone x