Workers' experience of Long Covid

In the survey we also asked about people’s current employment status; seven per cent (214 people) of people told us they were currently unemployed and had lost their job since March 2020. Whilst the sample size is small, we feel it is important to recognise the unique experiences of this group.

Of them, almost nine in 10 (88 per cent) believed they had lost their job due to Long Covid and half (53 per cent) had reason to believe they had contracted Covid-19 at work.

When looking at the symptoms they experienced, the most common were, as with other respondents, fatigue (98 per cent compared to 96 per cent overall), cognitive dysfunction – difficult with thinking and concentrating (95 per cent compared to 84 per cent overall) and shortness of breath or difficulty breathing (84 per cent compared to 73 per cent overall).

They were more likely to report certain symptoms and more likely to report a range of other symptoms for example, fast-beating or pounding heart (80 per cent compared to 60 per cent overall), dizziness (76 per cent compared to 57 per cent overall), cognitive dysfunction – memory loss (74 per cent compared to 63 per cent overall), headaches (74 per cent compared to 60 per cent overall), joint pain (71 per cent compared with 58 per cent overall), chest pain (70 per cent compared to 50 per cent overall), lung function abnormalities (35 per cent compared with 20 per cent) and inflamed heart muscles (20 per cent compared to 10 per cent overall).

Additionally, they were more likely to have experienced symptoms for longer periods of time – almost half (48 per cent) had experienced symptoms for over 24 months compared to 29 per cent of all respondents. Overall, 84 per cent of unemployed respondents had Long Covid for over 12 months. Shockingly, but perhaps not surprisingly, nine in ten of respondents out of work said their ability to carry out normal daily activities had been limited a lot.

When looking at their experiences of work:

• A third (34 per cent) said they felt forced to resign to protect their health.
• A third (32 per cent) said that the amount of sick leave they had taken had triggered an absence management or HR process.
• Almost three in 10 (28 per cent) said they felt forced to leave their jobs due to other Long Covid related reasons.

Of the respondents who had been become unemployed since March 2020, half (54 per cent) said they were using a significant others’ funds to financially support themselves, four in 10 (40 per cent) said they were using savings of less than £16,000.

Some of the quotes provided by respondents out of work recognised how unfair it was that they had caught Covid-19 at work with life changing consequences.

“I gave everything, including my health to teaching. I wish I hadn't. My employers did everything to support me during my contract, knowing it would end and they could replace me. I blame lack of funding from the government forcing schools to make cutthroat decisions. My employer, in effect is the government. They should declare that front line workers who caught covid get a compensation payment.” Woman, 4–-55, education.

“I caught covid at work because my employer failed to adapt and take appropriate infection prevention measures. I was the only employee to be furloughed two weeks after I was signed off and they sent notice of redundancy by post without any conversation or consultation.” Woman, 36–45, legal.

“I caught Covid-19 at work in March 2020 after I was sent on a business trip that I believe should never have gone ahead [leading to a] life-changing and life-limiting disability as a result.” Women, under 26, wholesale and retail.