Workers with long Covid
Nearly three in 10 workers with long Covid have experienced symptoms lasting longer than a year, according to new research by the TUC.
Based on survey responses from more than 3,500 workers, Workers’ experiences of long Covid also found that 95% of those affected have been left with ongoing symptoms, including brain fog (72%), shortness of breath (70%), difficulty concentrating (62%), and memory problems (54%).
Frontline workers have been disproportionately affected, with more than three-quarters (79%) of those who responded to the TUC’s survey identifying themselves as key workers. The majority are working in education or health and social care. More than two-thirds (68%) of respondents were women.
More than half (52%) of respondents had experienced some form of discrimination or disadvantage due to their condition, with many facing disbelief and suspicion from employers when they disclosed their symptoms.
Around one in six (18%) said their sick leave had triggered absence management or HR processes.
The TUC called for long Covid to be recognised urgently as a disability under the Equality Act 2010, and for Covid-19 to be recognised as an occupational disease so workers have access to legal protections and compensation if they contracted the virus while working.