Supporting Workers with Long COVID-19
When COVID-19 long haulers are ready to go back to work, businesses must be ready to welcome them and make sure they are in a safe environment.
For one reason, it’s the law. As of July 2021, COVID-19 long haulers are protected under the Americans with Disabilities Act. Post COVID-19 conditions are recognized as a disability by law. That means businesses and organizations can’t discriminate against them, and they shouldn’t.
And it is up to employers to learn more about the aftereffects of having COVID-19, how having the disease can affect people who have even had minor cases. While we are still learning about the long-term conditions, we do know people suffer even after recovering. Conditions such as lung conditions, shortness and difficulty breathing, coughing, chest or stomach pain, headaches, heart palpitations, difficulty thinking of concentrating, tiredness and fatigue, fevers, joint or muscle pain, and sleep problems have shown up in long haulers.
When employees return to work, companies need to make sure protective guidelines are being followed if it is an onsite position. Following the guidelines of the Centers for Disease Control can protect all your employees and keep everyone healthy, including those who have had COVID-19.
If employees are working at home, businesses need to be aware of making sure measures are in place and education is provided to help those recovering from COVID-19 be able to do their jobs.
With individuals with disabilities who have had or haven’t had COVID-19, businesses also have a responsibility to workers to be understanding they might be hesitant to returning or need to be eased back into the office setting after being away for a long period of time.
We are all living in an unprecedented time, and businesses must put the safety of their workers first as we navigate COVID-19. It’s the law and the right thing to do.
(As part of October’s National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM, NTI@Home is taking part in “America’s Recovery: Powered by Inclusion” theme to ensure Americans with disabilities are a major part of the national recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. Every October, NDEAM celebrates the contributions people with disabilities have made to America’s workforce and the economy.)
(Alan Hubbard is the Chief Operating Officer at NTI, a leading nonprofit helping Americans with disabilities find at-home employment with free training and job placement services. To register, go to www.ntiathome.org.)