Understanding Long COVID- Expert Insights from Dr Simon Olenski
Long Covid and the Workplace: Helping Clients Return to Function
Over the past three years, most of us have heard about Long Covid—the lingering symptoms that affect some people long after their initial Covid infection. But fewer people realise just how disabling this condition can be, particularly for younger, otherwise healthy individuals who suddenly find themselves unable to return to their normal roles at work.
What is Long Covid?
Long Covid is defined as symptoms lasting longer than 12 weeks after an initial COVID infection, not better explained by another diagnosis.
There are literally over 200 described symptoms which can be attributed to Long Covid, however, the most common symptoms include:
- Severe fatigue , with or without “post-exertional malaise”.
- Post-exertional malaise is a hallmark feature of both Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Long Covid. It means that after doing physical, mental, or even emotional activity that might seem minor to others, a person’s symptoms get much worse. This is often not straight away, but can be hours or even 1-2 days later.
- A good example of this is going to the gym, feeling fine for the next 24 hours and then ‘crashing in energy’ 48 hours later.
- ‘Brain fog’ – manifests as impaired concentration, word-finding troubles or slowed thinking speed
- Breathlessness
- Sleep disturbance
- Cardiac/autonomic dysfunction (dizziness, fast heart rates)
For a lawyer advising clients on workplace matters, it is important to recognise that these symptoms are often fluctuating, invisible, and difficult to prove with standard tests. Yet, they can significantly impair someone’s ability to function in demanding roles.
The diagnosis is made on ‘clinical grounds’. Meaning, there is no diagnostic laboratory test that clinches the diagnosis. A large part of my role is excluding alternate diagnoses.
A Case Example: Sarah, a 45-Year-Old Lawyer
Sarah (not her real name) was a high-performing lawyer in a busy commercial law firm. Sarah’s life is in disarray. She had to resign from her job due to severe symptoms of Long Covid including severe fatigue and ‘brain fog’ amongst others. After a relatively mild Covid infection in 2022, she expected to bounce back quickly. Instead, weeks turned into months of exhaustion, poor concentration, and unpredictable “crashes” after even small amounts of exertion.
Sarah has been off work for 12 months. She feels guilty, worried about her future employability, and frustrated that routine investigations have all been “normal.” Her firm was supportive initially, but colleagues struggled to understand why she wasn’t “just better by now.”
Through a structured assessment, we:
- Confirmed the diagnosis of Long Covid while ruling out alternative causes (e.g., thyroid disease, iron deficiency, sleep disorders).
- Documented functional limitations clearly, providing language that both her future employer and insurer will hopefully understand.
- Developed a staged rehabilitation plan, including pacing strategies, physiotherapy, cognitive support, and return-to-work planning with our multi-disciplinary allied health team.
Why This Matters for Legal Professionals
As lawyers, you may encounter clients with Long Covid in several contexts:
- Employment law: disputes about fitness for duty, reasonable adjustments, or dismissal.
- Insurance claims: navigating medical evidence for income protection or disability benefits.
- Workplace policy: advising organisations on how to support affected staff while meeting legal obligations.
The challenge is that Long Covid often sits in a grey zone: not always visible, not yet fully understood, but very real in its impact. Without careful medical input, cases risk being oversimplified—either minimised (“they should be fine to work”) or overstated (“they can never return”).
My role is to provide objective, specialist independent assessments that can assist patients, employers, and insurers.
For lawyers, understanding the nuances of Long Covid helps you better advise clients, whether you represent individuals navigating career disruption or organisations trying to do the right thing by their staff.
If you or your clients are dealing with workplace issues related to Long Covid, we welcome the opportunity to connect.
Dr Simon Olenski
Specialist in General (Internal Medicine).
