AEGiS-07IAC: A UK employers' initiative to promote good practice in employment and workplace education on HIV and AIDS.

7th International AIDS Conference


Florence, Italy — June 16-21, 1991

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A UK employers' initiative to promote good practice in employment and workplace education on HIV and AIDS.

Int Conf AIDS 1991 Jun 16-21; 7:449 (abstract no. W.D.4245)
Meldrum J, Hardy V, Kelmanson A, Jay M; National AIDS Trust (NAT), London, England

OBJECTIVE: To combat discrimination in the workplace; to promote education on HIV and AIDS, and to reinforce UK governmental guidance to employers issued in 1986 and renewed in 1990.

METHODS: Two development officers have been employed by the NAT to survey existing practice by employers and to develop a strategy for further work on these issues.

RESULTS: A survey of 100 major British industrial/commercial employers has shown that less than half had written policies on HIV. The policies of government agencies, such as health authorities, are in a similar state. Complacency appears to have set in after initial concern five years ago.

CONCLUSION: The potential for voluntary mobilisation of employers in the UK is still unclear. The issue of HIV/AIDS is still not part of the business agenda. NAT is therefore seeking to raise awareness through the media and by working with business and trade union representative bodies. To encourage high profile business involvement a membership/charter scheme has been set up, together with annual awards to business including one for good working practice. NAT has also been pressing for the inclusion of HIV training by organisations which are now defining future standards for vocational qualifications. A conference for local HIV prevention workers to encourage them to work with employers identified difficulties in persuading employers to address the issue, and opportunities for education on HIV/AIDS which should not be missed.

Keywords: AEGIS, Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome, Employment, Workplace, HIV Infections, Work, Health Education, Occupational Health Services, Organizations, Commerce, Health, Occupational Health, education, ICA7KWDaegis,acquiredimmunodeficiencysyndrome,employment,workplace,hivinfections,work,healtheducation,occupationalhealthservices,organizations,commerce,health,occupationalhealth,education,ica7
910616
WD4245

Copyright © 1991 - International AIDS Society (IAS). Reproduction of this abstract (other than one copy for personal reference) must be cleared through the IAS.