HIV in the Workplace | Ensuring Positive Futures

How EPF can Help

We can help ensure your business or organisation complies with the Disability Discrimination Act.

We can offer free Diversity Training and Seminars to help your workforce understand the issues around HIV.

We can advise you on the development of HIV friendly policies.

Useful websites

Disability Rights Commission. This website has loads of useful information on how to comply with the Disability Discrimination Act.

Point of Diagnosis. This website covers HIV, MS and Cancer, which since 2005 have been covered by the DDA from the point of diagnosis.

Department of Works and Pensions. This section of the DWP website offers advice on employing people with disabilities

HIV in the Workplace

The chances are that someone working in your organisation is living with HIV and unless they’ve disclosed the information, you could be completely unaware of their status.

So why should you try to understand the issues around HIV in the workplace?

For all the facts download the HIV is your business booklet from the EPF Media Centre

Your Duties as an Employer

In December 2005 HIV was included in the Disability Discrimination Act, as an employer you now have a legal responsibility to support people living with HIV, as well as other disabilities in your place of business.

This means that people living with HIV can’t be harassed or discriminated against in recruitment, employment terms and conditions, chances for promotion, transfer, training or other benefits.

You may also be obliged to make reasonable adjustments for employees living with HIV.

It is an employer's duty to ensure that there is no unfair dismissal or less favourable treatment than that shown to others.

The Business Case for Employing People Living with HIV

The majority of people living with HIV in the UK are of working age.
76% of those diagnosed with HIV are between the ages of 15 and 39, with skills and talents necessary for the workplace whether they are an existing or a potential employee.

"HIV affect all of us personally, either because individual staff or family
members have HIV or because we experience this impact on colleagues and
programme partners.

"We are also acutely aware that all of us are
vulnerable to the virus and its effects. CAFOD has made HIV a priority concern since 1986. CAFOD believes that all staff should feel confident and competent in responding to the challenges posed by HIV in our professional and personal lives and should be supported to do so.

"HIV forms an integral part of the induction programme for new staff and is a core component of ongoing
learning, training and support initiatives for CAFOD staff in all countries."

Ann Smith,
HIV Corporate Strategist,
CAFOD

With improvements in medication HIV doesn’t necessarily lead to Aids. The majority of people with the virus will go on to lead long, productive lives.
As an employer it’s important to be aware of the facts regarding HIV…what it is, how it is and isn’t transmitted. This will ensure you support people living with the virus in your workforce and can deal with any misinformation you may come across.
It’s important that you address the issue of discrimination at work against people with HIV. This can be tackled by training, changing workplace policies dealing with HIV and including protection for people living with the virus.
Many people, including employers, assume that people with HIV take more sick days than others. This is not the case.
A recent survey carried out by Barclays Bank reviewed sickness absence over a 2 year period found that disabled people, on average, took 8 days off compared to the 10 taken by non-disabled people.
Discrimination against HIV positive applicants/employees cannot be justified by misconceptions and it is illegal.
Employers who fail to take their responsibility seriously can face expensive legal action.

This tool kit has everything you require from advice and support to training resources needed to develop innovative policies and procedures regarding HIV for employers to use in the workplace.

Be an employer of choice

We can offer you advice on developing HIV workplace policies, as well as free Diversity Training. Show you support employees living with HIV, and become an employer of choice.

Be pro-active, use this website and be in control of any problems that arise.

Let employees who are useful to your business be useful without worry. Maybe a person living with HIV could be the person that takes your business to new heights.