Return To Work

One in four organisations list Long COVID as a cause of long-term sickness absence, impacting individuals and work places. The UK Office for National Statistic (ONS) data shows that working age people are less likely to participate in work or the labour market after developing Long COVID. Long COVID is also associated with a greater likelihood of unemployment and lesser likelihood of being able to work full-time. A Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) report published in February 2022 provides insights, learning, tips, and recommendations for Human Resources (HR) to better support people with Long COVID. The also CIPD provides guidance to provide support for those working with Long COVID, including a guide for professionals, line managers, colleagues and employees.

The impact of Long COVID on the workforce was discussed in UK Parliament Thursday 31 March 2022.

Long COVID Physio in partnership with Realize, Canadian Physiotherapy Association and the Rehabilitation Science Research Network for COVID Temerty Faculty of Medicine University of Toronto, published on 3rd December 2022 “Recommendations for Employers, Insurers, Human Resource Personnel and Rehabilitation Professionals on Return to Work for People Living with Long COVID”.

 
 

The Society of Occupational Medicine published in 2021, a COVID-19 return to work guide for recovering workers and managers. The Faculty of Occupational Medicine provided updated guidance in February 2022 for managers and employers on facilitating return to work of employees with Long COVID (access past guidance), and guidance for healthcare professionals on return to work. The Society of Occupational Medicine published a position paper August 2022 on Long COVID and Return to Work - What Works? (PDF), including impact on ability to work, assessment of function, early intervention, integration and rehabilitation, and support of employers.

Unison have published a range of bargaining guides including “Bargaining over workplace issues during the COVID-19 pandemic”, “Bargaining to support those with long COVID or post-COVID-19 syndrome”, “Working from home and hybrid working – a bargaining guide and model policy”, and “Negotiating Sickness Absence Agreements”.

The European Agency for Safety and Health at Work published in May 2022, a discussion paper on the impact of Long COVID on workers and workplaces and the role of occupational safety and health, making recommendations such as “to reduce the risk of relapses, workers should not be doing more than 70% of what they feel capable of doing at any time” as relapses can “further delay their recovery”.

This blog in Society of Occupational Medicine, by people living with Long COVID, provides valuable experiences and learning. Long COVID SOS have produced a summary of available resources about employment for people living with Long COVID.

University Hospitals Derby and Burton NHS Foundation Trust have produced a dedicated website on returning to work with Long COVID, and videos that focus on supporting return to work, including:

Long COVID Work is a vocational rehabilitation, education and training group of people living with Long COVID, supporting people living with Long COVID to stay in, return or leave work well.

Workplace adjustments are essential to support people with health conditions to return and participate in employment roles. The UK Government provides “Access To Work” support if you’re disabled or have a physical or mental health condition that makes it hard for you to do your job. To find out what you'll get from these scheme, click here. The report titled “I already have a job… getting through the day” (PDF) by Chronic Illness Inclusion (watch webinar on report) suggests three main adjustments needed for people with energy limiting chronic illness to remain in work:

  1. Timing of work - reduced hours

  2. Pace of work - maximum flexibility and autonomy

  3. Place of work - working from home

Research has demonstrated that work and employment is a common challenge for people living with Long COVID, with results from Mayo Clinic, Mount Sinai, and Office for National Statistics. Reports suggest healthcare workers have higher incidence of COVID-19, with Long COVID affecting many who work in healthcare.

For NHS employees, NHS England provided updated guidelines in July 2022 for NHS employees affected by Long COVID. These changes to end special COVID leave, have been criticised by Royal College of Nursing, British Medical Association, Chartered Society of Physiotherapy and Royal College of Occupational Therapy. NHS Employers provides information to help workforce leaders and their teams in the health system to continue to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic, including guidance on “Supporting recovery after Long COVID”, which includes clarification on disability definition under the U.K. Equality Act 2010. Long COVID Nurses and Midwives UK provide advice for meetings with human resources and manages relating to sick pay.

The Chartered Society of Physiotherapy provides resources and guidance for Physiotherapists affected by Long COVID. Long COVID Support provides a range of useful resources and guidance for employers.

The Allied Health Professions Federation (AHPF) “Health and Work Report” was developed with specific expertise from the UK professional bodies of physiotherapy, occupational therapy and podiatry, to enable people to safely remain in or return to work wherever possible. This guide which includes an “AHP Fit Note” can support employees to demonstrate they may be fit to return to work, or are currently not fit to return to work. An accompanying guide is available on completion of an AHP Health and Work Report. This e-learning by the University of Nottingham should answer questions on how to use the AHP Health and Work Report. The Royal College of Occupational Therapy specialist section on work also provides case studies and guidance on the use of fit notes.

A range of webinars have discussed return to work when living with Long COVID including:

Other useful support and resources include Citizen’s Advise, the Advice Conciliation and Arbitration Service (ACAS), Vocational Rehabilitation Association, and Equality Advise Support Service (EASS).

Long COVID Physio founding member Grace Ferguson has shared a personal reflection on returning to work as a Physiotherapist living with Long COVID. Long COVID Physio Advocacy Co-Director Cathy Thomson features in an MIT Sloan article about “How Managers Can Support Employees With Long COVID”.

Long COVID Physio podcast on return to work with Occupational Therapists Jasmine Yule and Jenny Ceolte-Smith is available below.

 
 

Date Last Revised: 3rd March 2023