COVID-19 infection may negatively impact work performance post-recovery: study
Global News
People who had COVID-19 often experience memory, attention, and concentration problems even after recovering from their illness, according to a new study.
A new study shows that people who have had COVID-19 often experience memory, attention and concentration problems even after recovering from their illness. These problems have also been associated with decreased self-ratings of job performance, as well as increased intentions to voluntarily leave one’s current job.
The University of Waterloo-led study, published on May 25, 2022, collected data from a sample of 94 full-time working adults — 45 had recently recovered from COVID-19 while 49 had not contracted the illness.
“I was doing this research because I was watching news coverage of long COVID and in particular the cognitive aspects of long COVID…And I thought, well, that’s got to be bad for you or your ability to do your job. That’s got to hurt you at work,” said James Beck, an associate professor in Waterloo’s psychology department and co-author of the study
Long COVID refers to any of the more than two dozens symptoms that linger, recur or first appear at least one month after a coronavirus infection. These can affect all parts of the body and may include fatigue, shortness of breath, brain fog and blood clots.
Beck said the research was conducted in the summer of 2020 to study the impact that brain fog caused by COVID-19 has on people’s work performance.
Compared to the group of people that had never had COVID-19, the group who had COVID-19 reported more cognitive failures at work — which are defined as problems with memory, attention and action, Beck explained.
“These results may have important implications for managers and organizations more broadly,” Beck said.
“Individuals returning to work after contracting COVID-19 may experience difficulties returning to their pre-COVID-19 level of performance, and accommodations may be necessary. These accommodations might include reducing workloads, extending deadlines, or providing flexible work arrangements.”
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