Returning to work
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Contents
When is the right time to go back to work with long COVID?
What can I do if I am feeling ready to go back to work?
What should I do if my current ability cannot be accommodated by my workplace?
Once I am back at work with long COVID, what can I do to aid my recovery and stay well?
How can I prepare for my return to work?
What can I do if I am not feeling ready to go back to work?
If you have long COVID, you might still have problems with:
- Fatigue
- Feeling breathless
- Feeling sad or worried
- Finding it hard to concentrate
- Difficulty standing and sitting for a long time
- Pain in your joints or other parts of the body
When is the right time to go back to work if I have long COVID?
This will depend on your health problems and what your job involves. Studies show that you do not need to wait until you are ‘100% fit’ to return to work because work itself helps you to recover. A good time to start thinking about returning to work could be when:- Your symptoms have stayed the same or improved slightly over a period of time
- You can manage your symptoms
- You can carry out everyday activities, such as showering and eating, without your symptoms getting worse
What can I do if I am feeling ready to go back to work?
Firstly, being able to recognise what you can and cannot do is a good place to start. If you are starting to think about returning to work, you could try doing something you do at work at home instead for a short time, such as reading, using a computer or walking. This will allow you to:- Build strength and stamina
- Learn how to manage your symptoms and energy
Talk to your line manager or the occupational health (OH) team at your workplace
If you have been off sick with COVID and you are ready to go back to work, it is recommended that you meet with your manager or the OH team at your workplace to create a Return-To-Work plan together. During the meeting you could:- Explain current symptoms or difficulties
- Describe any activities that you find hard to do
- Discuss your Return-To-Work plan – this might include a ‘phased’ return and any possible adjustments
- What tasks you feel well enough to do?
- What activities make your symptoms worse?
- What adjustments to your role or working environment might help you return to work?
A ‘phased’ return
If you are still experiencing some problems after COVID, you might want to consider a ‘phased’ return. This means going back to work in steps so you can slowly build back up to what you used to do. This is strongly recommended if you have long COVID and if you have been unable to work for even a few weeks. This might include:- Working part-time or reduced hours at first
- Doing different duties
- Doing parts of your job that you can do
Possible adjustments to your work
You should also consider possible adjustments to your work. Adjustments are changes to your workplace or job that make it easier and safer for you to return to work and do your job. Examples of adjustments are:- A ramp to make entering a building easier
- Equipment such as a special desk or chair
- Extra support to do your job
- Time off to attend health appointments
- Shorter working days
- Different start and finish times or shift patterns
- Working from home
- Altered patterns of working (for example, more frequent breaks)
- Making any physical, mental, or cognitive tasks less demanding
- Changes to workload (for example, fewer or less complex tasks)
What should I do if my current ability cannot be accommodated by my workplace?
If your current ability cannot be accommodated by your workplace, you should consider returning to work later on. Instead, you can use other activities or tasks as practice for going back to work. This might include:- Attending virtual or face-to-face appointments
- Attending rehab classes or completing home exercises
- Monitoring your symptoms (for example, completing an activity diary)
- Applying for welfare benefits and seeking advice
Once I am back at work with long COVID, what can I do to aid my recovery and stay well?
While you are recovering, it is recommended to revisit your Return-To-Work plan with your manager once a month. Fatigue is a common symptom of long COVID, therefore it is important to be sure that you are feeling well enough before increasing your duties or working hours. If your symptoms begin to get consistently worse, further adjustments or further sickness absence may be needed. You should also be careful to not to get too hot and to drink plenty of fluids. If you have any symptoms that get worse with exertion, avoid heavy work until you have seen an OH specialist. Return to TopHow can I prepare for my return to work?
If you feel ready to return to work, you should start to think about the tasks you have at work and their demands. This will let you assess what you can and cannot currently manage.- Do you carry heavy loads?
- Is it repetitive?
- Do you need to work quickly?
- Do you have set times to rest?
- Are you managing multiple tasks at once?
- Last no longer than a few hours
- Allow you to continue with day-to-day tasks
- Not lead to an increase in symptoms
What can I do if I am not feeling ready to go back to work?
Talk to your line manager or the OH team at your workplace
Speak to your manager and explain your symptoms and why you do not feel ready to go back to work. Some workplaces have an OH department. The OH team looks after health and wellbeing at work. They can advise on how your health may affect your work and any adjustments you might need to allow you to return to work without making your symptoms worse. Having an appointment with the OH team before you go back to work can be a useful step. They can support you to create a Return-To-Work plan that includes adjustments and your needs and can write to your manager, with your permission. If your employer does not have an OH department, you could ask them to find you an OH specialist from outside your workplace. Return to TopTalk to a healthcare professional
Speak to your GP or another healthcare professional, explain your symptoms and why you do not feel ready to go back to work. You can find a local healthcare professional at https://vrassociationuk.com. Your employer might have an OH team, and you can talk to them about how you feel and if you are worried. Return to TopGet in touch with the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service (ACAS)
ACAS is a national organisation that offers free advice about your health at work. Phone the free advice line 0300 123 1100. Return to TopGet in touch with Access to Work
Access to Work is a national programme that offers practical and financial support for you to get or stay in work. Phone the advice line 0800 121 7479. Return to TopGet a fit note
A fit note from your GP or hospital doctor can tell your employer that you need a period of sickness absence due to being unwell with long COVID and to access Statutory Sick Pay. The fit note will explain activities you find difficult to do due to long COVID and suggest adjustments that may help you return to work. Your employer is not obliged to act on these suggestions (as they may not be able to), but the fit note can be a useful starting point to discuss your return to work with your manager. Return to TopOther useful links:
- Guide for returning to work for employees: COVID-19 return to work guide: For recovering workers | The Society of Occupational Medicine (som.org.uk)
- Guide for returning to work for employers: COVID-19 return to work guide: For managers | The Society of Occupational Medicine (som.org.uk)