Long Covid - What is it and what does it mean for you as an employer?

COVID-19 can cause symptoms for some people that can last weeks or months after the injection has gone. This is now widely known as long COVID and according to a ACAS, it is having an impact on businesses as affected workers try to get back to work.

The Office for National Statistics has estimated that over 1 million people have reported experiencing long COVID and an advice note has therefore been issued following the staggering statistics.

This highlights that the symptoms are many and varied and include: extreme tightness, shortness of breath, chest pain or tightness, problems with memory and concentration (brain fog), difficulty sleeping, heart palpitations, dizziness, pins and needles and joint pain.

Other patients have reported depression and anxiety, tinnitus, earaches, feeling sick, diarrhoea stomach aches, loss of appetite, or high temperature, headaches, sore throat, changes to sense of smell or taste and rashes.

ACAS Chief Executive, Susan Clews said: “long COVID is a relatively new illness and for some people, it can be debilitating. For others its effects are variable, and a worker could be fine one day, but need to be off work if their symptoms worsen. We have been contacted by workers suffering from symptoms who are unsure of their rights and from employers who want advice on how to best support their staff”.

The advice note offers practical tips for employers to manage the various effects of the condition in a sensitive way, as well as a range of options that can help staff get back to work safely.

It suggests that employers should:

·       arrange and offer occupational health assessments,

·       Look into reasonable adjustments, which can vary from changed hours to adapted physical workspaces; and

·       discuss flexible working as an option, as well as phased returns which may mean coming back part time initially to build back up to working usual hours.

It's a good idea for the employer to focus on the reasonable adjustments they can make ACAS said, rather than trying to work out if an employee's condition is a disability.

It's really important to understand from the employees perspective, how they're feeling, and if the symptoms are potentially that of long COVID. If you're unsure what this means and you need further advice, get in touch with us using the “Get in Touch” button on the website, or drop us an email at alice@homeofhr.co.uk

Further information can also be found on the ACAS website and search for “long COVID”.