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Navigating temporary loss of income, sick leave entitlements or Centrelink payments can be difficult, especially when living with Long COVID. This is a space for practical support and tips for managing employment and financial related issues whilst living with Long COVID.
All employees deserve to be treated fairly and with respect, and everyone should feel productive and valuable in the workplace (Victorian Equal Opportunity & Human Rights Commission). COVID-19 was a global event on a scale few were prepared for, leaving little time and required knowledge to navigate how people perform the requirements of their job in a safe and inclusive manner. As our national response evolves (at time of writing, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced the end to COVID-19 disaster leave payments and mandatory isolation from October 14) so too does our need for personal responsibility in the face of COVID-19, and indeed perhaps none more so than for those of us living with the impacts of Long COVID.
As an online community established in Victoria, we appreciate that our members may reside across Australia and that some workplace protections and regulations vary from state to state. We will endeavour to provide information and support nationwide, with a focus on the impact felt closest to home here in Victoria. We’d love to provide a space for respectful discussion around your experience in the workplace living with Long COVID, your ability to find ongoing work as you navigate a chronic illness and resources for accessing appropriate support payments and financial assistance. Have you felt supported to continue in your job since your Long COVID diagnosis? Tell us about your workplace experiences with Long COVID. We’d love to hear your tips for managing your symptoms to ensure longevity within your role.
At 66 y/o I have been forced into retirement due to my levels of fatigue and my breathing difficulties, as a result I have had to sign on to centrelink. They have put me on jobseeker allowance and I have received 2X3 month sick notices from my GP which will take me through to early march. Centrelink will then want me to enroll with a disability job provider who will expect me to retrain and find work, 9months later I will be eligible for the age pension! I can't see any employer that is going to take me on considering this.