Does My Employer Have to Accommodate My Long-Haul COVID Symptoms?

COVID-19 has presented many questions for employers and employees. One set of questions surrounds “long COVID,” or “long-haul COVID.”

President Biden announced that the long-term effects of COVID-19 infection can in fact be considered a disability under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). This likely would apply under Minnesota’s Human Rights Act (MHRA) as well.

This means that employees who were infected with COVID-19 and still suffer from symptoms such as respiratory problems, brain fog, chronic pain, and fatigue that rise to the level of a disability are protected under federal law. Such symptoms rise to the level of a disability if they substantially limit a major life activity such as work. Employees with a disability are entitled to reasonable accommodations in the workplace.

If you have questions about ADA accommodations, or if your employer is refusing to provide accommodations or discriminating against you because of a disability, contact us. Our experienced employment law attorneys would be happy to discuss your case and help you understand your legal rights and options.