Long Covid in the company

Jürgen Griesbeck from pme Familienservice has 9 tips on what employers can do.

Jürgen Griesbeck from pme Familienservice has 9 tips on how to deal with this insidious disease.

In times of an enormous shortage of skilled workers, companies should quickly and permanently create structures that protect employees from illness and help if the illness has longer-term effects.

Long Covid: How long are you unable to work?

Even if it is not the illness with the most days of incapacity for work (AU days) in German companies, the number of people suffering from long Covid syndrome is growing steadily. 

More and more companies are reporting cases that can be attributed to this new disease. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that around 10 to 20 percent of Covid-19 patients are currently suffering from the long-term effects of the disease. According to estimates by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) at the end of May 2021, around 350,000 people in Germany are suffering from the consequences of coronavirus.

According to Techniker Krankenkasse's Health Report 2022, one percent of insured employees were officially on sick leave with long Covid in 2021. The low proportion of sick notes was offset by a very high duration of incapacity to work. 

On average, Long Covid patients were unable to work for 105 days. In comparison: on average, each employed person was only registered as unable to work for 15 days in 2021.

Symptoms of Long Covid: tiredness, fatigue, memory impairment

Long Covid syndrome is now one of the chronic diseases. 

According to the Robert Koch Institute (RKI), long Covid is when symptoms persist or reappear four weeks after infection with coronavirus. If they have not disappeared after three months, they are referred to as post-covid. The tricky thing about this is the wide range of symptoms associated with Covid-19, which can make life difficult for employees and employers alike. In addition to "fatigue" (severely limited resilience), these include memory problems, sleep disorders, coughing, muscle and chest pain and depressive moods.

This applies both to long Covid and - if the symptoms last longer - to post Covid. There may also be other symptoms that are difficult to cluster.

9 tips for dealing with Long Covid in the company

Employee and management trainer Jürgen Griesbeck from pme Familienservice has nine tips for companies on how they can help in the event of a long Covid case and protect healthy employees from the insidious disease:

1. Education and protective measures are essential to prevent infection with the coronavirus as far as possible. This includes, for example, wearing a mask, keeping your distance or working from home where possible. Talk to the company doctor about whether long Covid consultation hours could be useful.
    
2. If there is a case of long Covid in the company, it is important to take the person affected seriously and to take special care of them. For example, counseling services or information evenings can provide information about the dangers and consequences of long Covid.
    
3. Employers can help in a variety of ways, for example by creating a central point of contact for health issues , such as in the form of a wellbeing manager.
    
4. In addition, conversations with occupational psychologists or other company confidants can help to initially allay the fear of being treated as a fraud or work-shy. This is because the shame of those affected can quickly lead to excessive demands - regardless of whether it is long Covid or another illness.
    
5. It is also important that managers are trained accordingly so that they can quickly recognize performance slumps, counteract them if necessary and address them. It is helpful for employees to know that they can contact their line manager at any time.
    
6. If someone is suffering from long Covid, it may be possible to prevent permanent sick leave by temporarily adapting the working environment or work tasks. This also includes more flexible working hours and break times, more light in the workplace and proactive communication within teams to create understanding and solidarity.
    
7. If a team member is absent for a longer period of time or repeatedly, companies that are structurally unable to manage a BEM process on their own should seek professional help from external providers .
   
   In the BEM process, the specific and individual measures required to reintegrate the team member are then discussed. For example, with a gradual reintegration, in which working hours are adapted to the employee's performance in consultation with the treating doctor, or with more flexible/shorter working hours, the option of working from home and more rest periods.
    
8. With EAP support services such as childcare, crisis counseling, advice for relatives in need of care or a mental health risk assessment, which is anchored in the Occupational Health and Safety Act, private or work-related stress can be measured in advance and appropriate preventive measures can be developed in good time.
    
9. In addition, a company can support the health of its employees or their recovery with the help of workplace health promotion measures such as relaxation programs or meditation exercises

pme health: Effective BGM in blended learning format 

Organizational consulting, GBU Psyche, BEM: Our occupational health management (OHM) services are characterized by their holistic approach and individuality. From strategy development, needs analysis and implementation of measures through to evaluation, we establish, supplement and optimize companies' occupational health management portfolios in order to keep their employees healthy, productive and motivated. 

Personal support for employees based on a new holistic mind-body & soul approach is one of our key factors and goes hand in hand with our blended learning concept. We combine digital and live formats to promote physical activity, nutrition, stress prevention and mindfulness and make our knowledge available regardless of time and place.