The true implications of long Covid – and its full impact on employers – will only become fully apparent when employees return to the workplace, according to Christine Husbands, managing director at RedArc Nurses.
As commuters return to their daily commute for the first time since the start of the pandemic, Husbands says some employers won’t know how badly their staff have been affected by long Covid until they start to return to the office.
Husbands warns some employees may have been soldiering on with the effects of long Covid such as fatigue without notifying their employer while working from home but upon resumption of their commute and office working, their wellbeing could unravel.
But Husbands adds long Covid symptoms can change so tailored support for employees is paramount. This should include help for specific symptoms – both physical and mental – and advice on pacing and rehabilitation, as well as on returning to the workplace.
According to Husbands, employees also benefit from advice in navigating wider support from their GP, the NHS, long Covid clinics, local support groups, specialist therapies, second medical opinions as well as additional support within employee benefits.
“A complication of long Covid is that it’s not a static condition – symptoms such as joint pain, headaches, fatigue, digestive issues, and vertigo can improve and relapse causing some employees to feel that they are unable to cope…
“By helping employees through long Covid, employers are actually helping themselves in returning their workforce to full strength and capacity as much as is possible – and this is going to be a vital aspect of living with Covid-19.”