Employers should be using phased returns over 12 weeks or more for workers suffering from long Covid, as an insurer has revealed a significant jump in claims for the condition.
Last week ONS data showed the number of long Covid sufferers had increased by 100,000 in a single month to hit 1.2m across the country.
Today Metlife UK revealed it had seen a 250% increase in long Covid claims from July to September compared to the previous three months – although it did not give the numbers of claims this related to.
In September, exclusive Health & Protection analysis examined the number of income protection claimants insurers were currently supporting with long Covid.
With the number of cases rising across the country, Working To Wellbeing managing director Julie Denning told Health & Protection how employees could best be supported back to work.
According to Denning, return to work plans for long Covid sufferers are effective if supported by the employer with symptoms including cognitive ability taken into account and the person is phased in effectively.
Denning added the plan also needs to be allowed to be ‘low and slow’ allowing flexibility for pausing and resetting and taking a step back in order to move forwards if need be.
“It is key to get the right balance and understanding between the physical and mental health needs for each person,” Denning said.
“Employers need to be aware that physical recovery and cognitive recovery don’t necessarily improve in parallel. Cognitive difficulties seem to take longer to recover from.
“A longer slow phased return to work plan helps to support any cognitive impairments. Cognitive fatigue can be more of an obstacle to working and more difficult to overcome particularly with IT heavy roles with pandemic home working.”
Denning explained employers need to take a tailored approach to an individual’s needs due to the cyclical nature of long Covid as employees can experience setbacks following a period in which their symptoms have been stable or have improved.
But ultimately, Denning says a longer, more gradual phased return to work is generally “very helpful”.
“This can be challenging if employers expect speedier returns of say four to six weeks,” she continued.
“Some setbacks can take a while to work through and a six week plan can be an obstacle to remaining at work. Twelve weeks or more is more realistic for the return to work.”