If symptoms after a corona infection last longer than twelve weeks, we are talking about Post Covid. When it comes to getting back to work, the most important thing is patience, also from the employer.
Difficulty concentrating, exhaustion or memory problems: employees who return to work with Post Covid need a lot of time and understanding at work. Witold Rogge, senior physician at the Berlin accident hospital, points this out in an article in the magazine "Topeins" (issue 04/22) of the German statutory accident insurance.
You can't see from the patients that they are suffering from post-Covid, but they would not be able to do as much as before. Good preparation for reintegration into the company is therefore important. Otherwise, the first attempt to return to work often fails because employees place high demands on themselves and want to go straight back to their former level.
It is better to adjust tasks and working hours when you return. At the same time, possibilities should be explored as to how workplaces can be redesigned if necessary.
According to the information, if employees are on sick leave for at least six weeks within twelve months, company integration management (BEM) is also an option. An approach is often followed in which the working hours and thus the load are gradually increased - the so-called Hamburg model.
However, this is only suitable to a limited extent for those affected by post-Covid. From a medical point of view, it is best if employees with post-Covid always stay a little below their stress limit, says Rogge.
Reintegration should therefore be handled as flexibly as possible over a longer period of time. Reintegration can be scheduled for six months or even longer in individual cases. According to the article, the employees are still on sick leave during this time. Your labor force can therefore not be scheduled in a fixed manner.
Affected employees can find further information, for example, on the "longcovid-info.de" portal of the Federal Center for Health Education.
