Half of employers have staff with long COVID in the last year

Almost half (46%) of organisations have employees who have experienced long COVID in the last 12 months.

However, a fifth (20%) of employers said they didn’t know whether any employees have experienced ongoing symptoms from COVID-19 in the last year, suggesting the problem could be underestimated as a workplace issue.

New data from the CIPD and Simplyhealth shows one in four (26%) employers now include long COVID among their main causes of long-term sickness absence.

The survey of 804 organisations, representing more than 4.3 million employees, reveals that only a quarter (26%) of organisations are providing training/guidance for line managers on how to support people to stay at work when managing health conditions, and an even smaller number (19%) provide any guidance for employees.

This means some employees may be missing out on vital support from their employer or may not feel confident about how to disclose any issues and get the right support.

Rachel Suff, senior policy adviser for employment relations at the CIPD, the professional body for HR and people development comments:

Long COVID remains a growing issue that employers need to be aware of, and they should take appropriate steps to support employees with the condition.

“There’s a risk that those who experience ongoing long COVID symptoms may not get the support they need in the workplace and could even fall out of work.

Employers should ensure they have a supportive and inclusive culture that helps employees feel confident to discuss a health condition and ask for support or helpful changes when needed, such as a phased return or flexible working arrangements.

“Line managers should be given training and guidance on how to support members of their team with the condition, including how to facilitate a successful return to work following illness.

“Managers should bear in mind that employees might be reluctant to discuss ongoing health symptoms, so should check-in with their team regularly and ensure there are opportunities for them to flag any issues.”