Tags

Why long covid could be classified as a disability
26/10/2021
Main image
Long covid
iStock.com/Poike
Authors
Image
Aleksandra Traczyk is a solicitor at Winckworth Sherwood
Aleksandra Traczyk is a solicitor at Winckworth Sherwood

On 7 October 2021, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) reported that an estimated 1.1 million people in the UK were experiencing self-reported long covid. Of those, 831,000 had (or suspected they had) covid-19 for at least 12 weeks previously, and 405,000 at least one year previously. This is a staggering statistic. With many employees off work due to long covid, two key questions arise for employers: can long covid amount to a disability under the Equality Act 2010, and what does it mean for employers in practice?

Long covid as a disability?