Long COVID creates new challenges in the new normal

It’s been almost three years since the advent of COVID-19 changed not only the way in which we work, but our entire lives as well. The lockdowns have ended, and we are now feeling our way through what has been termed the “new normal.”

What that term means isn’t precisely clear, as the COVID-19 virus continues to surprise us. We are just starting to learn about some of the strange effects that the virus has upon people, such as hairy tongue (I’m not kidding), and the potential long-term effects of having been infected with COVID-19—so called “long COVID.” The effects of long COVID are just being felt, and just as the advent of the pandemic had unforeseen effects upon the workplace, it’s safe to say that the impact of long COVID will present new challenges to HR professionals.

Long COVID is real

Although over the past few years, we have been inundated with false or misleading information about COVID, one thing is clear: Long COVID is real and has been diagnosed by medical professionals in the U.S. and other countries around the world. Long COVID is formally defined by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) as “new, recurring or ongoing health problems” experienced at least four months after infection with COVID-19. Symptoms range from brain fog, headaches, heart palpitations, mood swings, light headedness, to autoimmune conditions that damage internal organs.