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AIBU?

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Original poster

Disclosing long Covid while on probation at work

21 replies

RuddyLongCovid · 04/01/2025 22:53

Have NC for this.

I was diagnosed with long Covid last year, very unwell for several months. Symptoms appeared to largely improve by September 2024.

I started a job in November 2024, doing three days which is all I can manage with other disabilities and long term conditions.

Employer is unaware of the long Covid. I had Covid again this week, feeling very unwell. No idea whether this will turn into long Covid again.

I am back at work next week... Debating whether to disclose the long Covid as scared if I am unwell during my probation period, they could let me go.

Yes, I know that's illegal but my DH who was a manager for many years (different sector to me) claims it would be impossible to prove that was the reason for being let go and there's no legal protection during the first two years of employment.

I want to ask for reasonable adjustments to help me manage my tasks. It's a very small business so no HR etc. to ask for advice.

Anyone else been in a similar position?

Thank you for reading.

OP posts:
Hufflemuff · 05/01/2025 01:47

Whats the job and what are the reasonable adjustments you are asking for?

Also maybe try not to panic yet about the covid turning into long covid, it might not!

SometimesCalmPerson · 05/01/2025 01:55

Do you need adjustments because of other conditions that you have disclosed or are you worrying you will need them if you have long Covid again?

Your DH is right about there being no protection for two years.

christmascrazylady · 05/01/2025 01:58

What adjusts are you asking for?

ShesNotACowShesAFox · 05/01/2025 02:37

Long COVID is badly recognised by employers but it IS a disease and should be treated as such. Definitely disclose it and state your symptoms and suggestion for reasonable adjustments. This way it makes it easier to prove if they do let you go (your DH is wrong to say it’s impossible)

Catza · 05/01/2025 10:14

A big part of my job is employment support for people with Long COVID. I always encourage people to disclose as soon as they get an offer of a job alongside disclosing all other disabilities. To date, not one person was let go due to disclosure. I understand the pressure of needing a job yesterday but it is actually much more problematic to be working for someone who is inflexible and unsupportive when you have a long term condition. If you have no reasonable adjustments, you will likely struggle down the line anyway and if you have to take leave due to a chronic condition, you will fall under sickness management protocol. Whereas disclosing mens that your sick leave can be adjusted so the days off due to long COVID are counted separately to your general sickness. You are a lot more vulnerable if you don't disclose.

TY78910 · 05/01/2025 10:36

Whilst you are on probation, the employer can just find a reason to not pass your probation. Because it's not a sacking, they don't have to go in to an awful load of detail why. They could just say your performance isn't quite up to where they like it and that's that when in reality it's for other reasons.

So this really depends on your employer and how they see things.

Some employers might think 'this person is taking sick already, that's going to be a long term issue for me' and some might think 'things happen, I have a lot of empathy for this situation'

There is no way of knowing.

Original poster
RuddyLongCovid · 05/01/2025 12:43

Hufflemuff · 05/01/2025 01:47

Whats the job and what are the reasonable adjustments you are asking for?

Also maybe try not to panic yet about the covid turning into long covid, it might not!

Yes, trying not to panic ☺️

I'm an Allied Healthcare Professional.

OP posts:
Original poster
RuddyLongCovid · 05/01/2025 12:44

TY78910 · 05/01/2025 10:36

Whilst you are on probation, the employer can just find a reason to not pass your probation. Because it's not a sacking, they don't have to go in to an awful load of detail why. They could just say your performance isn't quite up to where they like it and that's that when in reality it's for other reasons.

So this really depends on your employer and how they see things.

Some employers might think 'this person is taking sick already, that's going to be a long term issue for me' and some might think 'things happen, I have a lot of empathy for this situation'

There is no way of knowing.

This is really helpful, thank you.

OP posts:
Original poster
RuddyLongCovid · 05/01/2025 12:45

SometimesCalmPerson · 05/01/2025 01:55

Do you need adjustments because of other conditions that you have disclosed or are you worrying you will need them if you have long Covid again?

Your DH is right about there being no protection for two years.

Long Covid.

Thank you for confirming the 2 year period.

OP posts:
Original poster
RuddyLongCovid · 05/01/2025 12:46

ShesNotACowShesAFox · 05/01/2025 02:37

Long COVID is badly recognised by employers but it IS a disease and should be treated as such. Definitely disclose it and state your symptoms and suggestion for reasonable adjustments. This way it makes it easier to prove if they do let you go (your DH is wrong to say it’s impossible)

That is very helpful, thank you.

OP posts:
TigerRag · 05/01/2025 12:48

Legal protection due to disability has no 2 year limit. But it's difficult to prove

RandomMess · 05/01/2025 12:48

You need to declare that you consider yourself having a disability (if the long Covid worsens again) and ask for reasonable adjusts.

No way of knowing if they will be decent but will hopefully make them less likely to fail your probation due to the risk of you raising it as disability discrimination.

Original poster
RuddyLongCovid · 05/01/2025 12:51

Catza · 05/01/2025 10:14

A big part of my job is employment support for people with Long COVID. I always encourage people to disclose as soon as they get an offer of a job alongside disclosing all other disabilities. To date, not one person was let go due to disclosure. I understand the pressure of needing a job yesterday but it is actually much more problematic to be working for someone who is inflexible and unsupportive when you have a long term condition. If you have no reasonable adjustments, you will likely struggle down the line anyway and if you have to take leave due to a chronic condition, you will fall under sickness management protocol. Whereas disclosing mens that your sick leave can be adjusted so the days off due to long COVID are counted separately to your general sickness. You are a lot more vulnerable if you don't disclose.

Thank you. This is really helpful.

The plan at the moment is to see how I feel the week after next and if it's still an issue, I will have a chat with my manager. I am taking things one day at a time at the moment.

OP posts:
Original poster
RuddyLongCovid · 05/01/2025 12:54

christmascrazylady · 05/01/2025 01:58

What adjusts are you asking for?

Mini breaks, 3-5 minutes every hour
Working from home where possible
The chance to have a 10 minute lie down at lunchtime
Flexibility around working hours, eg starting a bit later and finishing later, or finishing earlier and completing my hours in the evening (fatigue is worse in the afternoon).

I have all the above recommendations (except the lie down) in an occupational health report from last summer, when I was a student on placement.

OP posts:
Hoppinggreen · 05/01/2025 12:55

What exactly do you think is illegal?
Disability discrimination is but letting someone go after probabtion isn't and neither is sacking someone anytime in their first 2 years of employment.
And if you haven't disclosed your illness (which may not actually be a recognised disability) then you can't even claim discrimination.

RandomMess · 05/01/2025 12:56

Perhaps you need to emphasise you can get the work done you just need a longer working day to achieve it which is hopefully temporary.

Pleasealexa · 05/01/2025 13:00

Is it possible for you to WFH? Do they have facilities to lie down, or could you go to your car during lunch break?

As a manager I would struggle to accommodate with the lying down during lunch as no facilities.
The flexibility on working hours depends on whether or not there is sufficient other staff to cover if you have a delayed start. It would be less of an issue for my workplace because there is some flexibility around core hours.

Original poster
RuddyLongCovid · 05/01/2025 13:14

Pleasealexa · 05/01/2025 13:00

Is it possible for you to WFH? Do they have facilities to lie down, or could you go to your car during lunch break?

As a manager I would struggle to accommodate with the lying down during lunch as no facilities.
The flexibility on working hours depends on whether or not there is sufficient other staff to cover if you have a delayed start. It would be less of an issue for my workplace because there is some flexibility around core hours.

Yes, there's a sofa in the clinic room which is usually free at lunchtime. I should be able to work from home around appointments.

There's no one else to cover my work.

OP posts:
Hufflemuff · 05/01/2025 13:35

RuddyLongCovid · 05/01/2025 12:54

Mini breaks, 3-5 minutes every hour
Working from home where possible
The chance to have a 10 minute lie down at lunchtime
Flexibility around working hours, eg starting a bit later and finishing later, or finishing earlier and completing my hours in the evening (fatigue is worse in the afternoon).

I have all the above recommendations (except the lie down) in an occupational health report from last summer, when I was a student on placement.

Show quote history

Gosh that's quite a lot, if you didn't disclose long covid during the onboarding process I'm not sure that as a manager I would be happy to go along with all of this. I think it would really piss off other employees to see that kind of flexibility given to other, very new members of staff. Especially the working from home where possible, is that something which is very common in your role? Also flexibility around working hours can often mean that you're not contactable during practical times of the day, so it makes it more tricky for others to get a hold of you to work as a team.

You can only ask though i suppose and I wish you all the luck in getting those adjustments.

BeanAround · 05/01/2025 13:48

I think it’ll vary depending on the nature of the role as I don’t think that would faze my employer at all.

OP - firstly if it reassures you, I had long covid following my first covid infection and have subsequently had three more without any impact (though I did have about 4-6 weeks with returning LC symptoms following a non-covid illness, go figure).

I would disclose - in my experience with disclosure of health issues and disability is that good employer will use it to positively support you and with a bad one having things on record can be helpful.

Original poster
RuddyLongCovid · 05/01/2025 14:03

BeanAround · 05/01/2025 13:48

I think it’ll vary depending on the nature of the role as I don’t think that would faze my employer at all.

OP - firstly if it reassures you, I had long covid following my first covid infection and have subsequently had three more without any impact (though I did have about 4-6 weeks with returning LC symptoms following a non-covid illness, go figure).

I would disclose - in my experience with disclosure of health issues and disability is that good employer will use it to positively support you and with a bad one having things on record can be helpful.

Thank you BeanAround. Sorry to hear you have been unwell. Hope you are now on the mend 💐

OP posts:
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