‘Another Unequal Burden’: Working with Long Covid - The New York Times

Some research has shown that lingering Covid symptoms are more prevalent in people in their 30s and 40s — when workers are often in the prime of their careers?

Banaszewski is one of at least seven million people in the United States, by one estimate, who are unable to work full time or who have had to scale back their work because of long Covid, which is defined as when Covid symptoms persist weeks, months or even years after the initial onset of an infection.

Some research has shown that lingering Covid symptoms are more prevalent in people in their 30s and 40s — when workers are often in the prime of their careers.

“We’ve got to, as a nation, recognize that the majority of people will be of working age, and we need to facilitate these guys working in an environment that allows them to recover while working,” said Fauzia Begum, an occupational health doctor for Britain’s National Health Service and the medical head of a countywide long Covid program in Derbyshire, England.

Nisa Malli, a labor researcher who has long Covid, said she returned to work too soon and later needed to take off a long period to recover.

The key difference between long Covid and other disabilities is that the virus is airborne and transmitted in the workplace and during commutes, Ms.

Lucy Bailey, a 34-year-old with long Covid, said she felt as if she was trying to figure out her career options without any support.

Some countries in Western Europe have robust policies to protect those with disabilities, said Philippa Dunne, one of the authors of a report published by the Solve Long Covid Initiative, a nonprofit research and advocacy group.

Since people who are unvaccinated may be at a higher risk for developing long Covid, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, companies in regions with low vaccination rates, like the South, may have more worker shortages than those in regions with higher vaccination rates, Ms.

A major logistical hurdle in the United States for employees with long Covid is qualifying for unemployment benefits.

It can also complicate responses from employers, who are still navigating how to handle coronavirus-related work issues, including the fraught issue of whether Covid vaccinations should be mandatory for workers.

Beyond the legal guidelines, companies can support and retain employees with long Covid by providing flexibility and a gradual return to work option

It’s crucial that people with long Covid avoid returning to work without the adjustments they need to manage fatigue, according to a guide by the Royal College of Occupational Therapists

How do you think companies should handle employees with long Covid