PICF and Consent

Please read the important information below.

The research is being carried out by the following researchers:

Role	Name	Organisation
Chief Investigator (CI)	Dr Jennifer Spoor	Department of Management and Marketing La Trobe Business School
Co-investigator	Dr Nicola McNeil	Department of Management and Marketing La Trobe Business School
Co-investigator	Dr Leila Afshari	Department of Management and Marketing La Trobe Business School
Co-investigator	Dr Geraldine Kennett	Department of Management and Marketing La Trobe Business School
Co-Investigator	Dr Jodi Oakman	Centre for Ergonomics and Human Factors School of Psychology and Public Health

Research funder: This research is supported by cash and in kind support from La Trobe University and La Trobe Business School.

1. What is the study about?

You are invited to participate in a study of how managers and human resource professionals in Australia support employees with long-COVID. We hope to learn about the impact of long-COVID on Australian organisations and what organisations across industries are doing to support affected employees.

You were invited to participate in this study through communications sent through social media, your professional organisation or employer. No contact details have been collected or retained by the researchers.

2. Do I have to participate?

Being part of this study is voluntary. If you want to be part of the study we ask that you read the information below carefully.

You can read the information below and decide at the end whether you want to participate. If you decide not to participate this won’t affect your relationship with La Trobe University or any other listed organisation.

3. Who is being asked to participate?

You have been asked to participate because:

You are a current manager, HR professional, OHS manager, or return-to-work coordinator in an Australian organisation, 18 years or older.

4. What will I be asked to do?

If you want to take part in this study, we will ask you to complete an online survey. It will take approximately 15-20 minutes of your time to be part of this study.

5. What are the benefits?

There are likely to be no direct benefits to you taking part in this study, although you may gain insight into your organisation’s practices and policies regarding employees with long-COVID. The expected benefits to society in general are greater understanding of how to support employees with long-COVID to return to work.

You will have the option to enter a prize draw for one of five X $50 gift vouchers. Providing your details for the prize draw is voluntary and your details for the prize draw will be kept separate from your survey responses. The prize draw will be completed by 30 November 2022, and only the winners will be contacted directly. After the prize draw is complete, all contact details will be destroyed.

6. What are the risks?

With any study there are (1) risks we know about, (2) risks we don’t know about, and (3) risks we don’t expect. If you experience something that you aren’t sure about, please contact us immediately so we can discuss the best way to manage your concerns.

Name/Organisation	Position	Telephone	Email
Dr Jennifer Spoor	Associate Professor in Management/HRM	03 9479 3135	j.spoor@latrobe.edu.au

We have listed the risks we know about below. This will help you decide if you want to be part of the study.

The questions relate to knowledge about long-COVID and managers’ responses to it, which may remind you of the current pandemic and your experiences with it.

It is important to look after your personal well-being during this time. Some information about well-being support is available in these resources:

Beyond Blue: https://coronavirus.beyondblue.org.au/
Lifeline: https://www.lifeline.org.au/

7. What will happen to information about me?

By clicking on the ‘I agree, start questionnaire’ button, this tells us you want to take part in the study.

We will collect information about you in ways that will not reveal who you are.
We will store information about you in ways that will not reveal who you are.
We will publish information about you in ways that will not be identified in any type of publication from this study.
We will keep your information for at least five years after the research is published in an academic journal. After this time we will destroy all of your data.
We will share an anonymised dataset with other researchers upon request.

The storage, transfer and destruction of your data will be undertaken in accordance with the Research Data Management Policy https://policies.latrobe.edu.au/document/view.php?id=106/.

The personal information you provide will be handled in accordance with applicable privacy laws, any health information collected will be handled in accordance with the Health Records Act 2001 (Vic). Subject to any exceptions in relevant laws, you have the right to access and correct your personal information by contacting the research team.

8. Will I hear about the results of the study?

You can contact the chief investigator, Dr Jennifer Spoor, after February 2023 and she will send you a lay summary of the results.

9. What if I change my mind?

If you no longer want to complete the questionnaire, simply close the web browser. If you change your mind after clicking on the ‘Submit’ button, we cannot withdraw your responses because we cannot link who you are with your questionnaire responses.

Your decision to withdraw at any point will not affect your relationship with La Trobe University or any other organisation listed.

10. Who can I contact for questions or want more information?

If you would like to speak to us, please use the contact details below:

Name/Organisation	Position	Telephone	Email
Dr Jennifer Spoor	Associate Professor in Management/HRM	03 9479 3135	j.spoor@latrobe.edu.au

11. What if I have a complaint?

If you have a complaint about any part of this study, please contact:

Ethics Reference Number	Position	Telephone	Email
22035	Senior Research Ethics Officer	03 9479 1443	humanethics@latrobe.edu.au

I would like to receive a copy of the results via email or post. I have provided my details below and ask that they only be used for this purpose and not stored with my information or for future contact. Alternatively, email the chief investigator j.spoor@latrobe.edu.au to request a lay summary of results.

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Please tick the box below to indicate your consent to participate in this study, then click 'Submit'. If you do not wish to participate in this study, simply close your browser.

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To save your responses and end the survey, click the 'End Survey' button below. If you have selected the wrong option by accident and/or wish to return to the survey, click the 'Return and Edit Response' button.