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Long COVID: What employers need to know

At the individual level, improving workplace understanding of the appropriate health channels and policies ensures that each employee is able to receive the necessary help and assistance they may need.

03/18/2022

What is long COVID and how prevalent is it?

Long COVID has become a major focal point of medical research since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic due to its increasing prevalence and effects. It is a term used to refer to individuals who do not fully recover from the initial COVID-19 infection, and go on to experience ongoing symptoms for weeks, months, and in some cases, years after an individual no longer has the virus.

Whilst research is still being conducted in Australia and around the world, current studies show that it is more common than initially anticipated, with around one third of COVID-19 cases still experiencing ongoing symptoms months after the initial infection.  

What are the symptoms of long COVID?

There is no standardised definition for what long COVID is and how to diagnose it, as there are a range of symptoms that may present themselves. The most common symptoms an individual may experience are: 

  • Fatigue
  • Shortness of breath
  • Muscle and joint pain
  • Brain fog – memory and concentration problems

However, there is a wide variety of symptoms that an individual may experience with reports of over 100 differing symptoms that can occur.  The major categories include:

  • Cardiovascular symptoms
  • Respiratory symptoms
  • Pulmonary symptoms
  • Pain-related symptoms
  • Fatigue symptoms
  • General infection symptoms
  • Psychological disorders
  • Cognitive impairment
  • Sensory impairment
  • Dermatological symptoms
  • Functional impairment
  • Other uncategorised symptoms

The numerous symptoms that may present in long COVID have led to comparisons being drawn with other health conditions such as chronic fatigue syndrome. 

Similarly, long COVID symptoms are frequently compared to cancer recovery symptoms. Colloquially known as “chemo brain”, these symptoms overlap heavily with those experienced by long COVID patients, including confusion, brain fog, memory issues, and difficulty multitasking. 

Who is at risk?

There are multiple risk factors currently shown in research that may make an individual more likely to experience long COVID. Those who experience more acute symptoms during their initial infection are more likely to develop long COVID symptoms. Interestingly, whilst males are more at risk of severe initial infection, females are the ones who are most at risk of developing prolonged COVID symptoms. Another associated risk factor is age, with the most affected group being the 35-49 years bracket and the risk increasing with age.

Other associated risk factors for long COVID include the presence of pre-existing health conditions, such as asthma, obesity, hypertension, or an immunosuppressive condition. 

Interestingly, another risk factor for long COVID was a previous diagnosis of psychiatric disorders, including anxiety and depression, as well a history of antidepressant usage. 

These general risk factors encompass most of the working population, as such, it is important for businesses to implement appropriate measures to nurture their employees’ health and wellbeing during this period.

What does long COVID mean for your business?

Without any intervention after illness, individuals are more likely to experience a lower quality of life and lower ability to successfully complete daily tasks. Research has shown that less than a third of individuals who contracted COVID-19 were back working the same amount of hours as they were prior to infection. Almost half of long COVID patients were working reduced hours six months after infection, and a fifth of individuals were not working at all, both as a direct result of their COVID-19 illness. Of those individuals who were back at work, almost 90% reported feeling mildly to severely unable to complete their work. 

This means that businesses can expect to see a reduced workforce size, as well as reduced productivity and efficiency from workers who are suffering from long COVID. 

Business strategies for managing long COVID

Organisational strategies

At the organisational level, the review and development of related policies and procedures is vital for ensuring a healthy and productive workforce. Areas such as job design, hybrid working environments, onboarding, and performance management are just a few key points that can be addressed at an organisational level to better promote the management of long COVID in a workforce.

Information and education sessions for frontline leaders regarding long COVID impacts and how best to manage employees’ health and welfare are necessary to ensure a holistic and well-rounded approach that encompasses all the individual needs of each employee that may be suffering from long COVID.

Workforce strategies

At the individual level, improving workplace understanding of the appropriate health channels and policies ensures that each employee is able to receive the necessary help and assistance they may need. Increasing knowledge regarding workplace terminology and procedures builds individual confidence, preventing any further major complications.

On top of this, education around the best self-care and management of symptoms will allow employees to apply practical skills to build competence and capability. Some of these topics include: 

Have a question or need guidance?

If you would like to talk to an expert to assist you with COVID-19 related insurance arrangements, please visit our COVID-19 hub or contact one of our experts directly.

Our Experts

Kristy Nicholson

Kristy Nicholson

Workforce Strategies Leader, Marsh Advisory, Pacific

Contact Kristy
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Ella Mansfield

Principal, Mercer Marsh Benefits

Contact Ella

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