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Updated 5/27/11
HIV/AIDS
Why Employers Care
AIDS is a workplace issue because it affects workers and the families, enterprises and communities which depend on them. At the same time, the workplace has a vital role to play in the wider struggle to control the epidemic.
According to the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) and the World Health Organization in the 2009 AIDS Epidemic Update, the global prevalence of HIV infection — the percentage of people infected with HIV — has stabilized since 2000. However, the total number of people living with HIV is increasing because of ongoing acquisition of HIV infection, combined with longer survival times, in a continuously growing general population. According to the International Labour Organization, by 2020, the disease is expected to cause a 10% to 30% workforce reduction in high-prevalence countries.
What Employers Can Do
HIV/AIDS affects people during their most productive years. Because of this, the global epidemic decreases productivity through increased absenteeism, declining morale, loss of existing knowledge and skills, and increased staff turnover. However, employees who are treated successfully may remain in the workplace as productive workers. Companies in high-prevalence countries have seen improvements in morale, productivity and staff turnover when they actively address HIV/AIDS.
Employers can lead by example by developing anti-discrimination HIV/AIDS policies as a foundation for other services including:
- Education on prevention and transmission
- Testing
- Voluntary counseling
- Treatment
Developing effective HIV programs sets the employer up as a leader in the community response to the disease by demonstrating their compassion and goodwill for employees, but employers cannot manage the crisis alone. Leadership by governments is critical and business can play an important role in supporting and pressuring governments to act.
GHBI and Select Business Group Resources
HIV/AIDS: Tools for Workplace Programs
Policy and Vision
Insurance Coverage
Education
Employer Activities
Coverage in India
Other
Resources
HIV/AIDS: Tools for Workplace Programs
- HIV/AIDS Impact and Response by Country — May 24, 2011
This spreadsheet provides information about HIV/AIDS prevalence, legislation, prevention and treatment in 17 different countries. Employers should consider using this information as they plan their HIV education programs and benefit strategies in their worldwide locations. The countries targeted include Brazil, Canada, China, India, Japan, Mexico, Poland, Russia, Singapore, South Africa, Thailand, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom, United States, United Arab Emirates and Vietnam.
- Getting Started with the International Labour Organization’s Recommendation Concerning HIV and AIDS and the World of Work – February 8, 2011
This report makes the ILO’s 2010 Recommendation on HIV/AIDS in the workplace actionable for multinational employers by providing strategies to develop workplace policies and programs and support employees with HIV/AIDS.
Policy and Vision
- Guide to Workplace HIV/AIDS Policy Development — November 24, 2009
This guide provides an overview for developing a global HIV/AIDS policy and includes sample policies.
Sample Employer Policies:
Additional Johnson & Johnson materials related to its policy:
- Vision Statement — August 3, 2010
Johnson & Johnson developed a vision statement for the company’s approach to HIV/AIDS.
- Understand the Policy — August 3, 2010
Johnson & Johnson uses this tool when educating its stakeholders about its policy
- Policy Deployment — August 3, 2010
This poster outlines Johnson & Johnson’s implementation of its policy.
Insurance Coverage
- Criteria for Adequacy — November 24, 2009
Levi Strauss & Co. drafted criteria to define adequate treatment coverage of HIV/AIDS-related illnesses.
- Schedule of Benefits — January 26, 2010
Levi Strauss & Co. drafted a schedule of benefits for coverage of HIV/AIDS-related illnesses.
Education
Employer Activities
- World Activities — December 9, 2010
Johnson & Johnson presented its activities for HIV/AIDS across the globe.
- Country Activities — March 1, 2010
This presentation reviews Johnson & Johnson’s 2008 activities for HIV/AIDS in various countries around the world.
- Levi Strauss & Co.'s Employee HIV/AIDS Program — June 23, 2009
Levi Strauss & Co. presented its extensive employee HIV/AIDS program at the 2009 Global Business Coalition on HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria's Annual Conference. Please note this document may take awhile to download due to its file size.
- Regional Activities — March 1, 2009
This presentation reviews Johnson & Johnson’s 2008 activities for HIV/AIDS in world regions.
Coverage in India
Other
All Business Group HIV/AIDS Resources/Publications
This link will take you to a chronological list of Business Group resources that are related to this topic. For additional search options please visit Publications. Most resources are available only to members of the National Business Group on Health and are designated with  . |
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Resources
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