Employment Sustainability in Individuals with Long COVID: A Sequential Explanatory Mixed-methods Analysis 1074

Long COVID has disrupted the lives and livelihoods of millions, yet the long-term sustainability of employment among those who return to work remains poorly understood. This presentation shares findings from a sequential explanatory mixed-methods study examining multilevel determinants of sustained employment among individuals with Long COVID. Guided by the Social-Ecological Model, the study integrates quantitative survey data with in-depth interviews to reveal how individual symptoms, workplace conditions, social supports, and policy environments collectively shape employment trajectories. Results show that 42% of participants who initially returned to work lost employment within three years, often due to fluctuating symptoms, inadequate accommodations, and systemic policy gaps. Attendees will learn actionable strategies for clinicians, rehabilitation specialists, employers, and policymakers to promote sustainable workforce participation and improve quality of life for individuals living with Long COVID.