Long COVID, work ability and return to work

Results of a Tea-breaker poll

Summary:

John Ballard presents the findings of our latest Tea-breaker poll about OH professionals’ experiences and opinions of long COVID and its impact on work ability and return to work.

Fatigue and cognitive dysfunction are the most common symptoms of ‘long COVID’ that affect an individual’s ability to work, a Tea-breaker poll of occupational health (OH) professionals reveals. The survey also finds that the median return-to-work (RTW) time for people absent with long COVID is three to six months (ie the time by which 50% of people will have returned to work), although around one in five respondents report that, in their OH practice, the median RTW time is more than six months. The impact of physical symptoms is the most common obstacle to RTW, respondents say. RTW plans should accommodate the fluctuating nature of long-COVID symptoms, through flexible work schedules, tailored work demands and targets, and providing support for the self-management of symptoms…

 

Dr John Ballard is editor of Occupational Health [at Work]

Author: Ballard J

Tags COVID-19

Occupational Health at Work April/May 2025 (vol. 21/6) pp22-28

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