Aids in Workplace

Dealing with HIV/AIDS in a Workplace

As a managers view on HIV/AIDS in a workplace I have understood that the largest national survey of AIDS policies and education programs in the workplace revealed that nearly half of American worksites have implemented HIV/AIDS workplace policies and one in six worksites offered their employees education programs that address HIV and AIDS. The results of the survey were released July 11, 1996, at the XI International Conference on AIDS in Vancouver. "The results are good news and a challenge to do better," according to Dr. Helene Gayle, M.D., MPH, Director, CDC's National Center for HIV, STD, and TB Prevention. "Although many businesses are establishing AIDS policies, the survey shows that there are employers who have not implemented AIDS education programs."

Challenges Remain

The survey was conducted by CDC's Business Responds to AIDS (BRTA) Program, which was developed in 1992. According to the survey, 43 percent of worksites with more than 50 employees said they have a policy regarding an employee with a disability or life-threatening illness including HIV/AIDS.

The survey also found that corporate philanthropy (fundraising and volunteerism) was the most common way large and small businesses were involved with HIV/AIDS. Nearly all worksites offered group health insurance, although, 5 percent limited or excluded HIV from at least one of the policies offered to employees.

Sixteen percent of firms provided employee education, "that represents more than 30,000 businesses committing to HIV education programs," according to Dr. Gayle. Of these, nearly all indicated that the program included a lecture, seminar or discussion group. Almost three- quarters said these programs were mandatory for at least some managers, supervisors, and employees.

A Snapshot of the American Workplace

"The survey gives us important information about HIV education and policies in the American workplace," says Cynthia Jorgensen, Ph.D, CDC's principal investigator for the study that surveyed more than 2,200 businesses across the country. "Never before has anyone taken a snapshot of comprehensive AIDS workplace programs to track the progress of their adoption and implementation."

One of the primary objectives of the Benchmark Survey was to determine the adoption of the five-component BRTA workplace program elements. The survey found that 41 percent of large firms have adopted at least two of the HIV/AIDS workplace program elements recommended by CDC.

"We are on track to meet our goal of having HIV/AIDS policies implemented by 50 percent of American businesses," said Angie Hammock, BRTA Program Director. "We've got to continue in this direction and, through the program's public/private partnership, promote employee education programs." According to Hammock, "these programs can assist businesses in avoiding crisis situations, in educating employees, and in providing information on legal issues."

A Five-Point Prevention Program

The Business Responds to AIDS Program is a public-private partnership of the CDC, the public health sector, business and labor designed to prevent the spread of HIV through a comprehensive workplace education program. The CDC, through this partnership, helps businesses across the country design policies and implement education programs for employees, their families and the community.

The BRTA Program recommends businesses establish comprehensive HIV and AIDS prevention programs comprised of the following five components:

Development of an HIV/AIDS policy

Training of supervisors in the policy

HIV/AIDS education for employees

HIV/AIDS education for employees' families

Encouragement of employee volunteerism, community service and corporate philanthropy

"AIDS is the leading cause of death for Americans between the ages of 25 and 44 a group that represents more than half of the nation's workforce," says Dr. Gayle. "Business leaders and human resource managers who understand this reality and implement comprehensive workplace programs, can better address legal challenges, avoid discrimination, manage employees with HIV compassionately, and educate their workforce."

Large and Small Businesses Are Responding

"As a result of our HIV/AIDS in the workplace efforts, our workforce is much more at ease with dealing with these issues," said R.W.