© North Bristol NHS Trust. This edition published August 2023. Review due August 2026. NBT003488
© North Bristol NHS Trust. This edition published August 2023. Review due August 2026. NBT003489
Resources for people who may be struggling with work because of Long Covid
These resources may help you and your employers if you are struggling with work because of Long Covid. We have chosen ones that contain a wide range of information for various challenges you may have. You might choose to share some of these with your employer.
Covid 19 return to work guide for managers
The "Covid 19 return to work guide for managers" by the Society for Occupational Medicine contains detailed advice on a phased return to work, which can be a very important for people with long Covid symptoms and may be a new concept for employers. It contains a comprehensive overview of work-related issues faced by employers and employees.
https://www.som.org.uk/COVID-19_return_to_work_guide_for_managers.pdf
C19 return to work guide for recovering workers
The “C19 return to work guide for recovering workers” (2021) by the Society for Occupational Medicine provides a comprehensive overview of managerial and employee duties and expectations.
https://www.som.org.uk/COVID-19_return_to_work_guide_for_recovering_workers.pdf
Webinars "Returning to work with on-going COVID-19 symptoms: Guidance for employees and managers
The webinars "Returning to work with on-going COVID-19 symptoms: Guidance for employees and managers" (2021) by University Hospitals of Derby and Burton NHS Foundation Trust provide information for managers and employees and covers practical steps.
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLfPD5ilcfEbit6R2OgezYD9YeNvnniSyb
"Long Covid FAQs" on the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development website
The page "Long Covid FAQs" on the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development website is directed at employers, and contains some useful facts and statistics, and some information on legal rights.
https://www.cipd.co.uk/knowledge/coronavirus/faqs/long-covid
Faculty of Occupational Medicine Guidance for managers & employers
The "Guidance for managers & employers on facilitating return to work of employees with post-COVID syndrome" (2021) by the Faculty of Occupational Medicine provides employers with general advice on returning to work, and some useful examples of reasonable adjustments.
https://www.fom.ac.uk/wp-content/uploads/FOM-Guidance-post-COVID_employers-managers.pdf
Access to Work
Access to Work can provide practical and financial support if you have a disability or long-term condition. This can be useful whether you have a job, are looking for work, are on supported internship or traineeship or want to become or are self-employed.
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/access-to-work-factsheet
This video was delivered as a webinar and provides an overview of Long Covid and the impact on people’s working lives and presents key strategies and principles that can support people to return to work and to stay in work.
Contributors:
Dr Tim Robinson provides an overview of the symptoms and management of Long Covid. Dr Robinson works in the Community Long COVID Single Point of Access assessment clinic which covers Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire (known as BNSSG).
Fiona Mckechnie shares approaches and adjustments that have been used to support people with fatigue syndromes in the workplace. Fiona is an Occupational Therapist in the Bristol M.E. Service, North Bristol NHS Trust.
If you have Long Covid and would like to have support, please contact your GP to request a referral to your nearest Long Covid clinic.