Clare Rayner, Kim Burton and Ewan MacDonald have published an article in Occupational Medicine summarising the Society of Occupational Medicine’s (SOM) best practice guidelines for a sustainable return to work with Long Covid. The article is free to access and download for six months – click here to do so.
This article provides evidence-based guidance for supporting individuals with Long Covid in their return to work (RTW). It emphasises that Long Covid is a multi-system condition with fluctuating and often disabling symptoms, significantly impacting working-age adults, especially those aged 35–65. Drawing on experience and research, the Society of Occupational Medicine outlines a five-step, manager-led approach to sustainable RTW: early contact during absence, regular review meetings, personalized RTW planning, support during early return, and ongoing review.
Key interventions include:
A prolonged, flexible phased return,
A personalised RTW plan that accounts for fluctuating symptoms,
Preventing reinfection, and
Avoiding energy overexertion.
Managers are urged to foster open communication, involve Occupational Health and HR, and use tools like the “Smart RTW Plan.” The article stresses the economic and social importance of retaining experienced workers and preventing unnecessary job loss or disability retirements. Practical resources and links for managers, OH professionals, and workers are included to support implementation.
Durham County Department of Public Health have produced a great video demonstrating that covid and many other viruses are airborne. The video is less than two minutes long. An airborne virus is a virus that can infect other people through particles in the air, sometimes for hours after the sick person has left the area! […]
This narrative review shows that POTS, ME/CFS and Long COVID are closely related conditions that share common biological mechanisms. The authors explain that problems with the autonomic nervous system, immune dysregulation and autoimmunity, mitochondrial dysfunction, reduced blood flow to the brain, and neuroinflammation all play a role. POTS and ME/CFS are identified as the most […]
Summary: Comparing Long Covid symptoms between patients that received COVID-19 vaccinations and those that did not. Study by Pasculli et. al., (2025) summarised by Amanda Harrington-Vail Introduction Since the COVID-19 pandemic was officially declared, almost 780 million cases and nearly 7 million deaths have been reported worldwide. Although COVID-19 vaccination has reduced the risk of […]
