Fórsa has demanded urgent clarity on the next steps after exhaustion of sick leave by members suffering from long-covid.

The union said the lack of foresight for this long-term illness was completely unacceptable, and has urged the HSE and the health department to engage with them under the auspices of the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) immediately to address urgent long-covid issues.

The union said the current criteria for special leave with pay for Covid-19 falls far short. The current mechanism of three months’ full pay followed by three months of half pay does not go far enough to financially help those out of work sick with persisting and, in some cases, debilitating symptoms of covid.

“Our members are having to use up their sick leave if they’re unable to work due to long-covid. Further, they face the worry of what happens should they use up all their sick leave and are left without pay,” the union said.

Head of Fórsa’s health and welfare division Ashley Connolly said “we are calling on the employer to recognise long covid and its effects and have more flexibility to help those suffering.

“The scheme simply does not go far enough. We need an urgent dialogue with the employer to put in place measures that are more suited to the seriousness and the long timeline of this illness and its symptoms.

“Once members run out of their paid leave they have no other option. They cannot return to work and put others at risk as many have direct physical contact with patients/clients, but there’s no clarity from the employer on what happens next.

“We need to engage now and decide on further financial assistance, there is simply no other way. Things cannot keep going as they are at this moment,” said Ashley.

Fórsa said majority of those who now have long Covid are the key workers who were exposed to increased levels of risk during the pandemic. The union said these workers should not suffer a risk to their livelihood.

Currently, the HSE is treating work absences - beyond the required seven days isolation period - as ordinary sick leave.

Ashley said the HSE scheme is unacceptable as it fails to address real financial concerns of staff.

“We want to ensure that workers on the frontline in community, voluntary and private employment, who did so much to meet the Covid-19 onslaught, and who continued to do are recognised for their efforts,” she added.

The HSE said there will be no extension to this scheme beyond 30 June 2023 and if employees remain unwell and no other action has been taken then they will move to ordinary sick leave arrangements from 1st July 2023.

Fórsa says ordinary sick leave arrangements cannot continue to be applied to this extraordinary illness. In addition to direct contact, a large number of staff suffering from long-covid work in settings with blood, body substances, infectious material or surfaces or equipment. They also have frequent/prolonged face to face contact with patients or clients or attend clinical settings for long hours.

Covid-19 causes symptoms for weeks or months after the infection has gone. While some people will recover quickly, for some the symptoms persist for much longer.

There’s never been a better time to join a union, and it’s never been easier. Join Fórsa today.