Bosses should support long Covid workers

Four years down the line, for many of us, the Covid-19 pandemic has become a memory. Even I find myself saying, ‘remember when we had to…’. But an estimated 1.9 million¹ people in the UK are left with a stark reminder of the pandemic as they continue to live with long Covid as a consequence. For this 2.9 per cent of the UK population, fatigue, shortness of breath, brain fog or some other debilitating symptom continues to be a daily legacy of catching the virus. Their lives and ability to work have never been the same.

For these people, life with long Covid continues to be highly challenging. They’ll have good days and bad days but for much of the time they’ll find it difficult to work, even though good work can assist their recovery and support their mental health. In a recent Office for National Statistics (ONS) report, the prevalence of self-reported long Covid was shown to be greatest in people aged 45 to 64 years², the economically active sector of the population.

These individuals need sustained support from both the government and employers since we still do not understand if this deterioration in health will be lifelong for them or if their health status will improve.

Whatever the outcome, this cohort have the ability to work if they receive sustained support from their employers who, in turn, need support from the government to enable them to provide this support. Yet a recent study in northern England³ shows that as many as 95 per cent (149 out of 157) of employers do not have a policy detailing how they support managers and employees on the issue of long Covid.

Support is key

So, what can employers do to support workers with long Covid? They should, for example:

• develop a policy that clearly states how those with long Covid will be supported
• increase awareness of the syndrome and ensure they understand the complexities of the workers’ experience
• do not treat long Covid like any other chronic health issue because, despite similarities, there are differences as to how this health syndrome should be managed
• resist the idea that a worker has to be 100 per cent fit to return to work – focus on what they can do rather than what they can’t do
• learn from the worker how their symptoms affect them and what practical support they need. Tailor specific rehabilitation programmes around their needs and capabilities
• give workers flexible work patterns and workspaces so they are able to manage their symptoms (for example, offer the option to work from home, or deploy them to other tasks)
• enable workers to work at a pace at which they feel comfortable. This might mean reduced working hours, or flexibility on deliverables
• engage with occupational health and safety professionals who are able to provide guidance and support to both managers and workers on safe integration into the workplace.

The Job Demands and Accommodation Planning Tool (JDAPT) is designed to identify accommodation and support that can help retain workers. This can be used by OSH professionals to assist managers in planning interventions and accommodations.

Long Covid is here for the time being and we are still learning about its effects on long-term health. The majority of those affected have recovered and are back at work. Yet for those who have not fully recovered from long Covid, the opportunity to work in a supportive environment will help their recovery. It will also support the government’s goal of retaining workers in gainful employment. This will be good for them and it will benefit the employer.

Failing to support these workers will result in the loss of a significant cohort of the economically active sector. It will place increased pressure on an already strained social security system. A lose-lose situation for all.

Background

Long Covid symptoms adversely affect the day-to-day activities of 1.5 million people (79 per cent of those with self-reported long Covid). Of these, 381,000 (20 per cent) report that their ability to undertake their day-to-day activities has been “limited a lot”.

Fatigue continues to be the most common symptom reported as part of individuals’ experience of long Covid (72 per cent of those with self-reported long Covid). This is followed by difficulty concentrating (51 per cent), muscle ache (49 per cent) and shortness of breath (48 per cent).

As a proportion of the UK population, the prevalence of self-reported long Covid is greatest in:

• people aged 35 to 69 years
• females
• people living in more deprived areas
• those working in social care
• those aged 16 years and over who are not working and not looking for work, and
• those with another activity-limiting health condition or disability.

References

1. ONS: Prevalence of ongoing symptoms following coronavirus (COVID-19) infection in the UK: 30 Mar 2023
2. ONS: Self-reported coronavirus infections and associated symptoms: Nov 2023 to Mar 2024
3. Health Equity North. 2024. Navigating the Long Haul: Understanding Long Covid in Northern England

Resources

• National Institute for Health and Care Excellence: Long Covid guidelines
• The Society of Occupational Medicine: Covid-19 return to work guide for managers
• Long Covid Support charity
• Institute of Occupational Safety and Health: Learning from the COVID-19 pandemic