Long COVID still raises a lot of unanswered concerns, but one thing is coming to light more and more clearly: It affects a lot of individuals. According to some research, at least 1 in 13 persons in the US have protracted COVID, which means that they have been experiencing symptoms for at least three months following their first infections but weren't doing so before they got COVID.
Devastating physical and psychological impacts can result: According to research, fatigue is long COVID's most prevalent symptom, and it has been likened to the extreme weariness that defines chronic fatigue syndrome. Although further research is required, it is clear that lengthy COVID symptoms can differ substantially from person to person. While some people endure recurring headaches or brain fog, others encounter cardiac problems or mental side effects.
It comes as no surprise, therefore, that current studies also indicate that extended COVID is hindering individuals from working; it may be difficult to perform any task when you're physically and/or emotionally weary, in pain, or emotionally spent, whether you're standing all day or sitting through meetings.
During the period of January 2020 to March 2022, a recent examination of 3,139 documented COVID-related worker's compensation claims in New York found that 71% of those who reported having long-term COVID were either unable to work for six months or longer or required ongoing medical care;75% of those with lengthy COVID are under the age of 60, and 16% of them did not return to work after more than a year. (Adults over 60 also reported having "substantial difficulties" reentering the workforce.) It's also important to note that the report classified 83% of "COVID-19 claimants" as essential workers. However, these statistics only include established claims; they do not account for individuals who were unable to receive a diagnosis from a doctor due to, for example, a lack of insurance or those who were required to continue working in order to support their families.
More over half of the 145 employees in a small 2022 survey that was examined and published in the journal Occupational Medicine reported working in the health, social, or educational sectors. The majority of the employees who reported experiencing COVID symptoms for more than six months encountered challenges including exhaustion, difficulties managing symptoms at work, "poor illness absence management procedures," and a dearth of organizational cultures that were "COVID-aware." The researchers also found that people who had flexible return-to-work planning, supportive management, and the ability to change their work schedule felt better catered to by their employers. According to one study by the Brookings Institution, a non-profit public policy think tank that focuses on doing research to address social issues, extended COVID is keeping millions of Americans out of employment.
Long COVID can have a huge impact on a person’s quality of life—and that can understandably affect their ability to work.
It is significant to highlight that extended COVID, also known as post-COVID symptoms, is a general term used to describe a variety of persistent health issues that individuals may have following exposure to SARS-CoV-2, the virus that induces COVID-19. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention state that health problems caused by extended COVID can linger for weeks or even years (CDC). COVID problems can cause disabilities in certain persons.
All of this to say: Many COVID symptoms can affect a person's ability to function on a physical, mental, or emotional level. According to William Schaffner, MD, an infectious disease specialist and professor of medicine at the Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, "if you have brain fog from long COVID, which makes it difficult for you to concentrate in a sustained manner on anything, that could create difficulty in almost any job." He continues, "no matter what sort of employment they have, those with symptoms that are difficult to manage with, such chronic pain or weariness, have a struggle."
According to Diana Berrent Güthe, the founder of the COVID-19 education and resource center Survivor Corps, many of the group's members have experienced this.People are having a great deal of difficulty navigating the disability process, she says, adding, "One thing I can tell for sure is that. It's complicated for attorneys, let alone someone who is cognitively impaired, physically exhausted, or in excruciating pain. Long COVID is not necessarily regarded as a handicap under the American Disabilities Act, and "an individualized assessment is essential" to establish if long COVID "substantially impairs" a person's life. Click here to read more about that.)
Another significant problem is that some people find it difficult to estimate when they will feel well enough to work because symptoms might come and go. Güthe remarks, "This is a true shade of gray."“They don’t know whether going to work on Tuesday may prevent them from going to work on Wednesday. People have good days and bad days, good weeks and bad weeks.”
What should people with long COVID know about returning to work?
According to Güthe, some people are so disabled that it isn't even an issue of whether or not they can go back to work. He adds that this can undoubtedly cause "financial problems" for certain people. She also emphasizes that there is a chance for healing. Güthe adds, "I don't want to be pessimistic about this—most people do get better with time—but each person's condition is as unique as their fingerprint. I've heard of a few exceptionally lucky people whose employers have been accommodating to the fullest extent imaginable.
One of the best accommodations for people with long COVID is typically "working collaboratively with their employer to structure their return to work in a way that is manageable for them," according to Andrew Wylam, a lawyer who also serves as the president and cofounder of Pandemic Patients, a nonprofit that provides assistance to those affected by COVID-19. Gradual return to work is beneficial, he adds, as are flexible hours and remote work alternatives. People may want to go back to work, but they don't want their symptoms to return if they do.
People with lengthy COVID must "keep open, constant contact with" their employer and supervisor about their symptoms and limits, according to Wylam.Of course, not every employer is flexible or even willing to make accommodations for people with long COVID. If you think you qualify for disability financial assistance and you’re struggling to figure out the system, Wylam suggests consulting a lawyer, if you can. They can help you understand what reasonable work accommodations look like, navigate workers’ compensation, and identify disability discrimination. (If you need help with this financially, you can look into Wylam’s Pandemic Legal Assistance Network, a national network of attorneys who provide free legal assistance to people who have been affected by COVID-19. You can also find pro bono legal service providers in your state here.)
While navigating all of this, try your best to put your wellbeing first, even though it can be difficult. Great if you have a compassionate and knowledgeable primary care physician assisting you, says Dr. Schaffner. Depending on your symptoms, (they can assist in referring you to specialists in your region.) If not, and you're close to a large hospital, see if they have a COVID clinic there so you can start a treatment regimen, he advises. And if you're simply overwhelmed and don't know where to begin, advocacy groups like Survivor Corps offer tools that could assist you in getting the care you require and deserve, including an interactive map that can assist you in finding specialized clinics in your area.
Güthe believes that the key is to go slowly. What is occurring right now won't always be your future, adds Güthe. "This place has a path to rehabilitation."