不幸的是, some people who test positive for COVID-19 can experience long-term effects from their infection, 被称为“长COVID-19”.” The effects of long COVID-19 can vary; individuals may experience mild symptoms or suffer near-debilitating health concerns. 长期以来，COVID-19对员工和雇主都产生了影响. 具体地说, some employees have not been able to work at full capacity due to their symptoms, 从而给雇主带来了额外的劳动力挑战. 本文进一步解释了COVID-19的长度, outlines how it has affected employees and explains what this means for employers.

什么是长COVID-19?

COVID-19可能包含一系列健康问题. 这些症状可能持续数周, 几个月甚至几年, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). 一般, such symptoms occur more often among those who experienced severe illness from COVID-19, but anyone who tested positive can encounter long COVID-19—even people who had mild illness or no symptoms from their initial infection. Individuals who have not been vaccinated against COVID-19 and become infected may also be at higher risk of developing long COVID-19.

Per the CDC, people with long COVID-19 commonly report these symptoms:

• 疲劳或疲劳 
• 身体或精神活动后症状加重
  
• 发热
• 呼吸困难或呼吸短促
• 咳嗽
• 胸部疼痛
• 心悸
• 脑雾
• 头疼
• 睡眠问题
• 头晕
• 发麻的感觉
• 嗅觉或味觉的变化
• 抑郁或焦虑
• 腹泻
• 胃疼
• 关节或肌肉疼痛
• 皮疹
• 月经周期的变化

对员工的影响

美国.S. Census Bureau’s June-July 2022 Household Pulse Survey found that 16.300万处于工作年龄的美国人目前患有COVID-19. It has been reported that long COVID-19 is even keeping some employees out of work altogether. 特别是, an estimated 4 million workers are currently out of the labor market, according to Brookings Institution’s Nonresident Senior Fellow Katie Bach. 进一步, the University of Southern California’s Understanding America Study found that nearly one-quarter (24.1%) of individuals who have tested positive for COVID-19 are experiencing long COVID-19; among these individuals, 25.9% reported that their symptoms have affected their employment or working hours.

这对雇主意味着什么

首先也是最重要的, the lack of available workers and those who are unable to perform at full capacity due to long COVID-19 could be contributing to ongoing labor challenges among employers. 事实上，美国.S. 美国劳工统计局(BLS)在其报告中称 职位空缺和劳动力流动总结 that, in July 2022, the number of job openings across the country rose to 11.与前一个月的1100万相比，下降了200万. These openings were well above initial estimates and still outnumbered unemployed workers by about 5.500万年. The number of job openings remains high as the demand for workers outweighs the supply. 像这样, 许多雇主都在努力填补职位空缺, and experts expect labor challenges to continue going forward.

Employers will also likely face some challenges as it pertains to their current employees who have long COVID-19. 这取决于员工的症状, employers will likely need to take an individualized approach to properly accommodate them on the job. Common accommodations include reduced hours, remote arrangements and hybrid schedules.

Employers should also be aware that when employees have more severe long COVID-19, this may constitute a disability under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). The ADA makes it illegal for employers to discriminate against qualified individuals with disabilities in all employment practices, 比如招聘, 补偿, 招聘, 发射, 工作分配, 培训, 休假及福利. 拥有15名或更多雇员的雇主受《梅高美集团4858》的保护. 长在COVID-19范围内, this means that employers are required to accommodate their affected employees as the ADA requires.

The Department of Health and Human Services and the Department of Justice issued joint guidance on long COVID-19 and clarified when it can reach the level of bein treated as a disability. 根据《梅高美集团4858》, a person with a disability is an individual with a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more "major life disabilities."

根据美国.S. Equal Opportunity Employment Commission (EEOC), major life activities 需要承担范围广泛的任务，包括(但不限于):

• 照顾好自己
• 执行手动任务
• 看到
• 听力
• 吃
• 睡觉
• 走
• 站
• 坐着
• 达到
• 提升
• 弯曲
• 说话
• 呼吸
• 学习
• 阅读
• 集中
• 思考
• 写作
• 沟通
• 与他人互动
• 工作

和所有美国助理检察官的要求一样, an employer must provide a reasonable accommodation to a qualified employee or job applicant with a disability, unless doing so would impose an undue hardship on the operation of the employer's business, 根据平等就业机会委员会.

了解更多信息

COVID-19将继续影响员工和工作场所. As a result, employers should monitor the issue so they can be prepared to respond effectively. Employers will likely need to provide accommodations to affected employees who are still able to work and should stay up to date on ADA requirements and other guidelines to ensure they remain compliant. For specific guidance, employers should seek local legal counsel.

For more information on long COVID-19, contact the 德州 Medical Group today. 

This 人力资源的见解 is not intended to be exhaustive nor should any discussion or opinions be construed as professional advice. ©2022 Zywave, Inc. 版权所有.