Working with long COVID: Guidance for people professionals
Guide for people professionals to provide support to those with long COVID

Guide for people professionals to provide support to those with long COVID
This guide provides information for people professionals on effectively managing an employee with long COVID. The guide outlines why long COVID is a workplace issue and how employees with long COVID can be supported.
It is anticipated that around 65 million people worldwide are impacted by long COVID, based on estimates that 10% of people who contracted COVID-19 will develop long COVID. Around 2 million people in England and Scotland say they are experiencing long COVID, with half reporting their symptoms have lasted two years or longer. Nearly three-quarters of those who self-reported long COVID said that they were significantly limited in their ability to undertake their normal day-to-day activities.
Although long COVID has been recognised for a number of years, there is still lots that is unknown about this condition. Symptoms are wide-ranging and fluctuate, and there is currently no diagnostic or cure. Supporting employees with long COVID to return to, and stay in, work is important for their recovery and for your organisation.
The recommendations in this guide have been developed following research into working with long COVID and can be read alongside the CIPD guide on managing a return to work after long-term absence and the CIPD guide on managing and supporting employees with long-term health conditions.
You can also refer to the downloadable guide on supporting those with long COVID specifically developed for managers.
Versions of this checklist can be shared with the individual with long COVID, and with the individual’s agreement, their colleagues and line manager. This can help everyone to be clear on specific actions that they can take to support employees with long COVID.
Download it here.
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