SUPPORTING EMPLOYEES WITH LONG COVID: A GUIDE FOR EMPLOYERS
JobAccommodationNetwork
JobAccommodationNetwork
PracticalSolutions•WorkplaceSuccess
PracticalSolutions•WorkplaceSuccess
1
Introduction
Since the COVID-19 pandemic began in the spring of 2020, COVID-19 has impacted people in many ways. Government
reports estimate that millions of Americans have experienced prolonged, lingering symptoms, a condition known as
Long COVID. These symptoms can be severe enough to aect an individual’s ability to function, including the ability to
work. This publication provides information and resources to help employers support employees with Long COVID.
What is Long COVID?
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), post-COVID conditions (also known as Long
COVID) are a wide range of new, returning or ongoing health problems people can experience four or more weeks
aer first being infected with the virus that causes COVID-19. Even people who were asymptomatic in the days or
weeks aer they were infected can have post-COVID conditions. These conditions can present as dierent types and
combinations of health problems for dierent lengths of time. Commonly reported symptoms associated with Long
COVID include fatigue, shortness of breath, muscle pain, cough, headache, joint pain, chest pain, an altered sense of
smell, diarrhea and altered taste.
Does Long COVID affect employee mental health?
As more of the workforce returns to in-person work, many employees are experiencing fear and anxiety. In addition,
one study found that within six months of contracting COVID-19, one third of patients had been diagnosed with
neurological or psychiatric conditions, including anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and
psychosis. For almost 13% of these patients, this was their first such diagnosis. Mental health and workplace
well-being should be at the forefront of every employer’s planning. Through collaboration, employers can create
supportive, inclusive workplaces for all workers. The Employer Assistance and Resource Network on Disability
Inclusion’s (EARN) Mental Health Toolkit contains information and tools that can support employers as their
employees return to work. In addition, the Campaign for Disability Employment (CDE) recently launched a new
initiative that oers several resources for employers.
How does Long COVID affect the workplace?
Long COVID is contributing to a current, national labor shortage. In a survey of Chief Executive Oicers (CEO), labor
shortages ranked as the greatest external threat by U.S. CEOs and the third greatest challenge for CEOs globally. The
Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey (JOLTS) data published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported 11.4
million job openings for June 2022, and research suggests that people leaving their jobs due to Long COVID could
account for up to 15% of these job openings.
Large companies like JPMorgan Chase and Accenture predict the current labor shortage will outlast the pandemic.
Because the competition for labor may be intense, and hiring and training new employees can be costly, employers
may want to explore ways to support and retain current employees, including those with Long COVID.