The vast majority of employers are stepping up to help employees affected by long Covid, according to research from insurer Canada Life.
The study found 93% of those surveyed with long-Covid who worked full time said they had been offered support by their employer as they returned to work.
In total 2,000 people were questioned in January, with 5% then saying they had received a positive test for Covid-19, of which 65% went on to experience symptoms associated with long Covid.
Canada Life noted the symptoms associated with long-covid were relatively common such as breathlessness, fatigue and joint pain.
And it added that for most patients, incapacity was relatively short, normally around three to six months, but some people were experiencing a slower recovery requiring patience from all parties.
Support provided by employers ranged from enabling access virtual health and wellbeing services (37%) to the offer to work more flexibly (32%) and reduction of working hours (32%).
Commenting on the findings, Dan Crook, protection sales director at Canada Life, said: “For a significant amount of people who have contracted the virus, they are left with a number of potentially very debilitating symptoms, of which little is known, although more is being learned every day.
“In these cases it is essential that employers display understanding towards any employees reporting symptoms and it is reassuring to see so many offering support services and flexibility to their affected colleagues.
“These relatively simple measures can go a long way towards someone’s rehabilitation and help take the pressure off their road to recovery.”
