Washington — Employers can help reduce the safety risks of long COVID in the workplace through a multifaceted approach that focuses on the physical, cognitive and mental health challenges that affected employees face, according to a recent National Safety Council report.
Long COVID is a condition characterized by lingering symptoms that persist for weeks or months after recovery from the acute phase of COVID-19. NSC says those symptoms can range from fatigue and difficulty concentrating to more severe cognitive and physical impairments – all of which can put affected employees at higher risk of injury. An estimated 10% to 30% of people who recover from the acute phase of COVID-19 may experience long COVID.
For its Long COVID and Workplace Safety report, NSC surveyed 1,500 full-time workers between October 2024 and September 2025. Respondents were placed into three groups: those who never tested positive for COVID-19, those who tested positive but didn’t have symptoms beyond typical recovery and those who continued to have symptoms for three or more months after initial infection.
Findings show that the workers who experienced long COVID symptoms were more likely to report a workplace injury that required medical attention and/or time off.
The researchers suggest employers and safety professionals:
- Conduct comprehensive physical and cognitive risk assessments to identify potential hazards.
- Implement flexible work arrangements, such as reduced hours/part-time work, remote/hybrid work or a phased return to work after illness.
- Introduce workplace modifications by providing access to ergonomic workstations, assistive devices and frequent breaks.
- Offer mental health support through employee assistance programs, mental health days and access to therapy/counseling.
- Foster an environment of empathy, trust and transparency through open dialogue with supervisors, stigma reduction and employee resource groups.
- Ensure workers with long COVID are entitled to certain legal protections, including those from the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 and the Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993.
- Educate managers and colleagues via training and awareness campaigns.
“Understanding how [long COVID] symptoms interact with job tasks and safety protocols is essential to mitigating risks and supporting affected workers,” the report states.
