BRIDGEPORT, W.Va (WDTV) - The US Department of Labor said in a press release that West Virginia workers with Long COVID may be eligible for accommodations and workplace protections under federal law.
“Individuals experiencing long COVID report experiencing new or recurrent symptoms, which can include anxiety and depression, fatigue, shortness of breath, difficulty concentrating, heart palpitations, disordered sleep, chest and joint pain, headaches, and other symptoms,” says The White House. “These symptoms can persist long after the acute COVID-19 infection has resolved. Even young people and otherwise healthy people have reported long COVID symptoms that last for many months.”
The Office of Disability Employment Policy says that “a person with Long COVID may have a disability and be entitled to accommodations under the Americans with Disabilities Act” as long as they have a physical or mental impairment that “substantially limits one or more major life activities”.
People with Long COVID may have difficulty working the same way they did before and may be entitled to temporary or longer-term supports that can help them stay on the job or return to work once ready. An individual assessment is necessary to determine whether a person with Long COVID can qualify for such protections and resources.
West Virginia workers can contact the Job Accommodation Network, the leading source of free, expert and confidential guidance on workplace accommodations for people with disabilities. The Job Accommodation Network is a service provided by the department. For more information, visit askjan.org/, email [email protected] or text (304) 216-8189.
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