What does the future hold in store?
HIV/AIDS in the workplace
What does the future hold in store?
One of the greatest problems facing companies is HIV/AIDS and the effect it will have on morale, worker retention, productivity and profitability. Employers are faced with the task of addressing the spiraling cost and effect that the illness is having on business in general.
In addressing this, employers need to consider specific issues that are in one way or another related to the effects of HIV/AIDS. These include, but are not limited to
· Performance management
· Managing incapacity due to illness
· Managing productivity
· Absenteeism due to ill health
· Compassionate leave
· Disability management
· Maintaining confidentiality and privacy
· Procedures for initiating inquiries
· Degrees of incapacity
· Disability grants as opposed to early retirement
This is not a time for a "Head in the sand" approach. While many employers are addressing the issues related to HIV/AIDS others are still ignoring the problem in the hope it will go away. This is not going to happen and calls for a pro-active approach.
"Understanding how aids will affect the supply and demand chain from employees to customers is central to strategic market planning" according to Veni Naidu at Cape Town's School of Economics. He goes on to say, "If AIDS is excluded from strategic market planning, there may be drastic consequences for organisations".
According to Carl Van Aardt, director of research at Unisa’s Bureau of Market research, the recent study challenges the widespread belief that HIV is a disease of the poor, the impoverished, the uneducated and the unemployed.
Recent statistics released, following a Markinor survey, indicate we could be facing a “third epidemic, due to the increase in HIV infection in the more affluent sectors of society”.
A great number of well-off and affluent South Africans are now living with HIV/AIDS. 6.2% of professional people were infected in 2002. The figure has now escalated to just over 10%.
What this indicates is that a large percentage of those who are employed, who are capable of investing, and who are in a position to sustain the economy are now infected. This can only have a negative impact on companies and the country as a whole if not addressed.
From the time of infection, it can take as long as ten years to develop full-blown Aids, in the absence of treatment. During this time, a company may have many infected workers at various stages of infection. This can, will and possibly is even now costing companies a great deal in terms of productivity and other direct and indirect costs.
HIV/ AIDS, is having a visible impact on industry, yet less than half of our companies have started to analyse the risks. According to a previous “Aids in the workplace” survey many companies still doubt the epidemic will have any significant impact on them.
The HIV/AIDS message is not having the desired effect and to compound the problem mixed messages are being put out by government. While a great number of people have received information and acquired knowledge of HIV/AIDS the question being asked is “how can we convert the knowledge into action”?
A recent discussion i listened to spoke about the ongoing need for training on HIV/AIDS. Listening to this discussion I suddenly thought- Will people want to undergo HIV/AIDS training when there is such a stigma attached to it? This is not the type of training people want to attend openly. So why do we refer to it as HIV/AIDS traiing?????
Perhaps we need to re-name the training "Understanding sexual relations" - "The role of men in manageing relations" - "Where do women fit into rrelationships?" or something similar. There is less of a stigma atttached to these names and when you consider it HIV/AIDS is not the only problem when it comes to sex and sexual relations.
This is food for thought and possibly worth considering as a workplace based project.
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Johan Schoeman on -
MAn you are lucky that you have never met or known anyone with HIV.
I can just hope that you will wake up soon
Anthony Thebus said:I have had a problem believing that AIDS/HIV even exists, if this was such a huge problem, then we wouldn't have such a high unemployment rate in SA. In about 1994/95, when I was a management committee member of a medical aid, it was predicted that by the year 2000, almost all of SA's midle management would be missing due to the "AID pandemic"!! Now in 2010 we still have middle management in companies, we still have vacancies due to skills shortages, companies are still retrencing and having staff cut-backs due to the reccession, Eskom's price increases, etc. that is no impact as a result of AIDS/HIV.
I think that "the AIDS pandemic" has been created to slow down population growth for obvious reasons, such as saving the earth and its resources, job creation for condom manufacturers and its distribution channels, etc. I also believe that AIDS is an excellent vehicle for fundraising efforts because whoever has a function or event to raise funds for AIDS, solicits quite a good response.
I do believe AIDS exists as a medical condition, but I personally have never come across any AIDS sufferer yet and I personally don't know anyone that has died from it or even has it.
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Permalink Reply by Asnake Temesgen on -
Hi! Hope that what you wrote is a start up dialogue for discussion evenif there are a number of realistic facts within it. I definately believe that you had the opportunity to see and come face to face with people living with HIV and died suffering in your exposure with the medical team you worked. But, i have seen and seeing every day people suffering and dying from HIV and AIDS.
Let me pose a question for you from the contradictory issues raised in your message. That is if AIDS has been created to slow down population, then why that did not happen relieving those out of the problem via making ready made employment as there will plenty of all sorts of jobs.
But, there is one big issue you raised which i hundred per cent appreciate and share. Yes, HIV/AIDS has become a means of making money for the intellectuals, NGOs,government etc. Very very large amount of money is pouring to these group of people which is really illogical. I have seen an AIDS patient who was taking ART medication witout anyfood and died while a big luxerious HIV meeing with high rate of per diem was held in one place. This makes me bitter and calls for justice, equity and clear thinking. Thanks.
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Permalink Reply by Des Squire on -
Hi Asnake
The points you have picked up on seem to be those reaised by Anthony Thebus and are most certainly not mine. I felt I neded to clarify this. Des Squire
Asnake Temesgen said:Hi! Hope that what you wrote is a start up dialogue for discussion evenif there are a number of realistic facts within it. I definately believe that you had the opportunity to see and come face to face with people living with HIV and died suffering in your exposure with the medical team you worked. But, i have seen and seeing every day people suffering and dying from HIV and AIDS.
Let me pose a question for you from the contradictory issues raised in your message. That is if AIDS has been created to slow down population, then why that did not happen relieving those out of the problem via making ready made employment as there will plenty of all sorts of jobs.
But, there is one big issue you raised which i hundred per cent appreciate and share. Yes, HIV/AIDS has become a means of making money for the intellectuals, NGOs,government etc. Very very large amount of money is pouring to these group of people which is really illogical. I have seen an AIDS patient who was taking ART medication witout anyfood and died while a big luxerious HIV meeing with high rate of per diem was held in one place. This makes me bitter and calls for justice, equity and clear thinking. Thanks.
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