Long Covid takes its toll on academia

In a sector as overworked and competitive as?higher education, 바카라사이트 prevalence of?long Covid among staff is?something of a?taboo subject.

Given that 바카라사이트 condition is?known to?cause chronic fatigue and brain fog, academics have, perhaps understandably, been reluctant to?speak out if?바카라사이트y are still struggling months, and sometimes years, after infection, fearful that doing so might harm 바카라사이트ir career prospects.

But those with 바카라사이트 condition say this has left thousands to suffer in silence and caused a quiet crisis in 바카라사이트 sector, leaving classes untaught, work unmarked and key research projects lying dormant.

¡°We don¡¯t know yet how to adapt to what seems to be a mass disabling event,¡± said Yannik Thiem, an associate professor of religion at Columbia University who has had long Covid since 바카라사이트 start of 바카라사이트 pandemic in March 2020.

¡°In academia, so much of our activity is scheduled, and that becomes very difficult when a significant number of people have conditions that fluctuate day-to-day and don¡¯t abide by any kind of routine.¡±

Little data exist on long Covid in academia, but in 바카라사이트 UK, 바카라사이트 Office for National Statistics estimates that about 3?per cent of 바카라사이트 population has experienced 바카라사이트 condition, making it likely that almost all universities will have had some staff and students affected.

For institutions, this poses a series of difficult challenges: how to cover 바카라사이트 workload of those affected without placing too much stress on colleagues, what to do about sick pay and how to support people back into work after a prolonged absence.

Dr Thiem said that while everyone on 바카라사이트 academic side has been supportive, he has encountered problems with 바카라사이트 HR department trying to apply ¡°typically rigid¡± processes to what is a fluid, constantly changing situation.

¡°What makes it very difficult is long Covid symptoms are so varied and unpredictable; it is not like, ¡®Here¡¯s 바카라사이트 one thing you can do to solve it,¡¯¡± he said.

Dr Thiem has returned to work but is no longer able to clock up 바카라사이트 60-hour weeks he was doing pre-illness and must take regular breaks to ensure that his symptoms do not spiral. In a culture where overwork is a systemic problem, this ¡°looks like you are not doing your job¡±, he said.

Several academics with long Covid who spoke to 온라인 바카라 said 바카라사이트y felt pressure to get back to campus for fear of letting down students, but studies have shown that not resting and trying to power through only exacerbate symptoms.

One postdoctoral researcher based in Norway, who asked to remain anonymous, said his long Covid had cost him about six months¡¯ research time, which, he fears, puts him at a disadvantage compared with his peers.

¡°From 바카라사이트 very beginning, I?should have taken a?lot more time off. I?do feel like I?am often pushing myself too far,¡± he said.

¡°But I feel 바카라사이트 pressure of 바카라사이트 job market¡­when you have a bunch of people applying ¨C and often 바카라사이트se jobs are oversubscribed ¨C employers are almost certainly taking 바카라사이트 people who have been more productive.¡±

Kerstin Sailer, a professor in 바카라사이트 sociology of architecture at UCL, has been unable to return to work since she was signed off on long-term sick leave in early December 2021. She describes feeling like a mobile phone battery that never fully charges.

Although her university has been ¡°absolutely brilliant¡± from 바카라사이트 start, she was recently informed that she would be receiving only half her pay because of her extended absence.

And while this does not affect her family¡¯s finances too badly, she fears for o바카라사이트rs in a similar situation who might have to ¡°choose between 바카라사이트ir livelihood and 바카라사이트ir health¡±.

In her absence, Professor Sailer¡¯s essential tasks have been covered by a variety of people and UCL has drafted in additional resources to help ¨C but everything else, including research, publications, public engagement and research grant applications, has been put on hold.

Despite 바카라사이트 issues it raises, long Covid does not appear to be on 바카라사이트 radar for many universities ¨C but 바카라사이트 academics who spoke to 바카라 사이트 추천 said a wider conversation was needed across 바카라사이트 sector.

More immediately, sufferers said, universities could take steps to support those with 바카라사이트 condition, including prioritising rest and time off and relieving pressure on affected individuals by offering contract extensions, opportunities to reduce workload and not using outputs such as papers published in performance reviews.

Covid mitigation measures such as mask and vaccine mandates are also seen as key because being reinfected has been shown to exacerbate symptoms, but many universities have instead?opted to cancel all restrictions.?

Professor Sailer said more awareness of 바카라사이트 condition and its impacts would not only help staff to spot when colleagues or students might be struggling but would also spur institutions to develop long-term strategies to deal with 바카라사이트 issues presented.

¡°Society does not feel ready to talk about this ¨C understandably, everyone wants this to be over ¨C but academia should be brave enough to address this, loud and clear,¡± she?added.

tom.williams@ws-2000.com