What's Happening?

Facebook Twitter Youtube Linkedin

NEED HELP? QUESTIONS@FIA.ORG.ZA

become A FIA member TODAY
member login

The Lingering Effect of COVID-19

ARTICLE BY

  • Jacqui Nel

SHARE THIS POST

Long-COVID’s effect on the workplace

Most people who have contracted COVID-19 recover within two weeks, while those who have experienced acute infection can take up to six weeks to recover. Many people are, however, experiencing a wide range of symptoms beyond six weeks, often in excess of six months.

“Some common terms used to describe post-COVID symptoms include long-COVID, long-haul COVID, post-COVID syndrome as well as post-acute COVID-19 syndrome,” says Jacqui Nel, Business Unit Head of Healthcare at Aon South Africa. “It is critical that employers proactively recognise and implement an environment where engagement, education and encouragement is embraced and practiced.” 

The impact of Long-COVID manifests in three critical areas, namely physical, mental and emotional. According to the Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Post-COVID conditions are a wide range of new, returning or ongoing health problems that people experience four or more weeks after first being infected with the COVID-19 virus. Even people who did not have COVID-19 symptoms in the days or weeks after they were infected can have post-COVID conditions. These conditions can present as different types and combinations of health problems for different lengths of time.[1]

Examples of common symptoms of long-COVID include:

  • Tiredness or fatigue
  • Difficulty thinking or concentrating (also referred to as “brain fog”)
  • Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
  • Headache
  • Dizziness on standing
  • Fast-beating or pounding heart (referred to as “heart palpitations”)
  • Chest pain
  • Cough
  • Joint or muscle pain
  • Depression or anxiety
  • Fever
  • Loss of taste or smell

This list is not exhaustive. Some people also experience damage to multiple organs including the heart, lungs, kidneys, skin and brain.

“Post-hospitalisation symptoms can present many weeks after contracting COVID-19 and may be similar to those experienced by people who initially experienced mild or no symptoms. It is difficult to ascertain whether these symptoms are caused by the effects of hospitalisation, the long-term effects of the virus, or a combination of both. These health complications may also arise from other COVID-19 related conditions, including mental health issues stemming from isolation, negative economic situations and the lack of access to healthcare for managing underlying conditions,” explains Jacqui.

Long-COVID’s impact on the workplace

Employees who present with post–COVID conditions often feel misunderstood and unsupported due to a lack of understanding by employers and colleagues.

“The significance of the financial impact to an employer is grossly underestimated, which is why it is imperative that employers adopt a proactive management approach by engaging and educating management and staff members on the topic. The implementation of support systems will also greatly assist employees who are experiencing Long-COVID symptoms,” says Jacqui.

Long-COVID’s impact on the employer and the employee manifests in the form of:

  • Continuous sick leave due to symptoms being ignored or overlooked.
  • Employees who are unable to function at previous levels resulting in a decline in work productivity.
  • Employees who present as being irritable and anxious.

“All of these scenarios can lead to self-esteem issues and depression,” explains Jacqui. “A pro-active approach promotes and encourages an engaged, productive workforce. Early interventions can prevent future disability claims which would otherwise increase overall costs of benefits, training and recruitment,” she adds. 

How employers can manage the impact of long-COVID

  • Ensure education and awareness around symptoms, how to manage these and guidance on where to seek help.
  • Arrange for return-to-work check-ins via HR or the employee’s line manager and discuss any employee concerns.
  • Allow for a reasonable adaptation period around work duties to accommodate an employee who is in the recovery stages – this should be strictly monitored and agreed with the employee.
  • Keep a record of progress and introduce regular feedback sessions.
  • Consider and implement an Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) to assist with mental and emotional support.
  • Encourage employees to obtain assistance from their employer- appointed broker in understanding the benefits of an EAP and how to access the long-Covid benefits provided through the medical scheme.

Prevention is better than cure

The best way to prevent post-COVID conditions is to prevent COVID-19. “It is imperative for employers to implement a programme that encourages employee vaccinations against COVID-19, to protect themselves and their colleagues around them,” says Jacqui. “And as we head into the December holiday season, a fourth wave and the new Omicron variant, it is crucial for all to remain vigilant, maintain your social distancing and keep your mask on in public areas,” Jacqui concludes.

Subscriber Terms and Conditions

  1. APPLICATION OF TERMS
    • These terms and conditions (“Subscriber Terms”) apply to the subscription by any qualifying member of the South African Underwriting Managers Association NPC (“SAUMA”) to the services and benefits offered by FIA Services (Pty) Ltd (“FIA Services”) under the SAUMA affiliation arrangement (“Subscription”).

  2. NATURE OF SUBSCRIPTION
    • A Subscription under this arrangement:
      • does not constitute membership of FIA NPC;
      • does not confer any voting rights or governance participation in FIA NPC; and
      • is governed solely by the contractual relationship between the Subscriber and FIA Services.

  1. ELIGIBILITY
    • To qualify for the Subscription, the applicant must, at the time of application, be a current paid-up member of SAUMA.
    • FIA Services will verify the applicant’s SAUMA membership status with SAUMA prior to activation, and may re-verify such status periodically.
    • If a Subscriber ceases to be a paid-up member of SAUMA, the Subscription will correspondingly be terminated.
    • Applicants are required to authorise FIA Services to confirm their SAUMA membership status with SAUMA as part of the application process.

  1. SERVICES
    • The Subscription entitles the Subscriber to the following benefits:
      • Complimentary access to the FIA CPD Platform;
      • Complimentary access to the FIA Insight Magazine (digital edition);
      • Advertising opportunities on FIA platforms at a discounted rate of 15% (fifteen percent) off the prevailing published rates; and
      • Invitations to attend FIA Technical Webinars annually.
    • FIA Services reserves the right to update, vary or substitute the Services from time to time, provided that the overall value and nature of the benefits remain materially the same.

  1. FEES AND PAYMENT
    • The monthly subscription fee is R260.00 (two hundred and sixty rand) for up to seven registered individuals (Key Individuals and Representatives), and R36.00 (thirty-six rand) per additional registered individual thereafter, excluding VAT.
    • The Subscriber shall provide FIA Services with the required details of each individual to be registered under the Subscription for the purposes of activation and billing.
    • All fees are exclusive of VAT, which shall be charged at the prevailing statutory rate.
    • Subscription fees are reviewed annually in March and may be adjusted with effect from 1 April.
    • Any changes to the Subscription, including but not limited to the number of Representatives and Key Individuals registered under the Subscription, may only be effected once annually during the annual review period in March of each year, with such changes taking effect from 1 April.
    • Subscription fees shall be billed monthly in arrears, unless the Subscriber elects an annual billing cycle at the time of application.
    • The Subscriber shall ensure that all billing information (including contact details, authorised signatories and bank account details) is kept accurate and up to date.
    • Non-payment of subscription fees may result in suspension of access to the Services until such fees are brought up to date.
    • The Subscriber acknowledges and agrees that all subscription fees payable under these Subscriber Terms may be collected by way of debit order, which shall be processed by the holding company, FIA NPC (The Financial Intermediary Association of South Africa), on behalf of FIA Services. Payment to FIA NPC shall be deemed to constitute valid and sufficient discharge of the Subscriber’s payment obligations to FIA Services under these Subscriber Terms.

  1. ONBOARDING
    • Onboarding will be conducted as a Subscription with FIA Services under the SAUMA affiliation arrangement.
    • Onboarding will not confer FIA NPC membership status or any associated rights.
    • Onboarding is conditional on confirmation of the Subscriber’s current SAUMA membership at the time of application

  1. DATA PROTECTION
    • FIA Services will process all personal information in accordance with the Protection of Personal Information Act 4 of 2013 (POPIA) as set out in our POPIA policies.
    • By subscribing, the Subscriber authorises FIA Services to confirm their SAUMA membership status with SAUMA and to process personal information for the purposes of fulfilling the Subscription.

  1. TERMINATION
    • The Subscriber may terminate the Subscription by giving FIA Services one calendar month’s written notice.
    • FIA Services may terminate the Subscription on one calendar month’s written notice, or immediately if the Subscriber breaches these Subscriber Terms and fails to remedy such breach within 14 (fourteen) days of receiving written notice.
    • Termination of the SAUMA–FIA Services affiliation agreement shall not automatically terminate these Subscriber Terms.
    • Termination by the Subscriber shall not relieve the Subscriber of liability for any subscription fees accrued up to the effective date of termination.
    • FIA Services may suspend or terminate the Subscription with immediate effect in the event of non-payment of fees by the Subscriber.

  1. GENERAL
    • These Subscriber Terms are governed by the laws of the Republic of South Africa.
    • Any disputes arising under these Subscriber Terms shall be dealt with in accordance with the dispute resolution provisions contained in the FIA NPC membership terms and conditions, as modified to reflect that the contractual relationship is with FIA Services.
    • Any notices required under these Subscriber Terms may be validly delivered by email to the addresses provided in the Subscriber’s application form, and such notices shall be deemed received on the day of transmission if sent during business hours.
    • The Subscriber may not assign, cede or transfer any of its rights or obligations under these Subscriber Terms without the prior written consent of FIA Services.
    • No variation of these Subscriber Terms shall be of any force or effect unless reduced to writing and signed by both FIA Services and the Subscriber.