Advice on HIV for employers

A new report has claimed that one in eight employees and over a quarter of managers have experienced discrimination at work over their actual or perceived HIV status, or know someone who has experienced such discrimination.

Can people with HIV work? is published by the Positive Futures Partnership, a coalition of HIV charities. It draws on two surveys of 438 employees and 198 employers and managers.

Another key finding from the surveys was that 13% of workers said they had been asked on application forms whether they had undertaken an HIV test, or had been asked to disclose their HIV status - even though there is no justification for such questions.

The report points out that, while many people assume that HIV and AIDS are no longer important issues, this is far from the case. Advances in treatments mean that people with HIV are living longer with a better quality of life, and this in turn has led to increasing numbers remaining in work or returning to work.

With this in mind, the report aims to help employers commit to equal opportunities for workers with HIV and AIDS. It covers a range of areas including:

* the relevant anti-discrimination legislation;

* how to formulate a successful HIV policy;

* confidentiality and disclosure;

* flexible working arrangements; and

* managing sickness absence and return to work.

Can people with HIV work? an employment perspective from the UK, is available free from the Positive Futures Partnership - call 020 7564 2188.