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Long COVID and work in the UK: challenges, support and perspectives
Hua Wei1, Sarah Daniels2, Ruth Wiggans2,3
1Division of Population Health, Health Sciences Research and Primary Care, School of Health Sciences, The University of Manchester, Manchester, UK. hua.wei@manchester.ac.uk.
Archives of Public Health = Archives Belges De Sante Publique
|December 5, 2025
Summary
Returning to work with Long COVID (LC) is challenging due to invisible symptoms and unpredictable recovery. Tailored workplace support and flexible policies are crucial for people with Long COVID (PwLC) to navigate return-to-work (RTW) successfully.
Area of Science:
- Occupational Health
- Public Health
- Socioeconomic Impact of Chronic Illness
Background:
- Long COVID (LC) significantly impacts working-age individuals, creating inequalities in employment and support access.
- Understanding workplace challenges for people with Long COVID (PwLC) is vital for effective return-to-work (RTW) strategies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate workplace support for PwLC in the UK.
- To explore the RTW experiences of PwLC and their managers.
- To identify barriers and facilitators in supporting PwLC's RTW.
Main Methods:
- Qualitative study utilizing semi-structured interviews.
- 20 PwLC and 2 managers participated.
- Inductive thematic analysis was performed using NVivo14.
Main Results:
- LC presents with fluctuating, often invisible symptoms and unpredictable recovery, complicating RTW.
- Existing RTW support mechanisms (e.g., phased returns, work adjustments) face implementation challenges.
- Gaps in knowledge, resources, policy, and guidance necessitate tailored support for PwLC.
Conclusions:
- Flexible, personalized RTW approaches are essential due to LC's variable nature.
- Supportive work environments are crucial to address invisible symptoms and stigma.
- Addressing resource limitations for managers and improving government support design is critical for PwLC's equitable work access.
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