HIV is Still at Work - Is Your HIV Workplace Policy Up to Date?
The CAS Guide to an HIV Friendly Workplace
Bacon, Jean. Canadian AIDS Society, Ottawa: 2004

You may not have heard much about HIV or AIDS lately. But that doesn’t mean it’s gone away. In 2003/4, about 50,000 Canadians are living with HIV. Each year, about 2,000 more Canadians are diagnosed with HIV.

Just because HIV isn’t in the headlines doesn’t mean it isn’t in the workplace. According to a recent survey sponsored by the federal government, close to four in ten Canadians (39 per cent) know or have known someone with HIV/AIDS.

In the early days of HIV, when people tended to die within six to 12 months of being diagnosed, they were often too ill to work. Now, because of improvements in treatments, more people with HIV are staying well and continuing to work. Many who had left work and gone on disability are now returning to their jobs. If you don’t already have someone with HIV in your workplace now, chances are you soon will.

Does your workplace have a policy on HIV/AIDS?

In the 1980s and 1990s, many companies developed policies designed to:
- ensure employees with HIV received the same treatment and benefits as employees with other illnesses
- educate co-workers about the real risks of HIV transmission
- prevent discrimination in the workplace.

Today, an effective, up to date workplace policy must take into account not only benefits and discrimination, but reasonable accommodation. More people with HIV are working, but HIV is still a life threatening illness. Like many people with chronic illnesses, people with HIV have their ups and downs. Sometimes, they are quite healthy and able to do a full day’s work. Other times, they may have trouble with their medication. They may feel extremely tired or weak. They may have to attend a lot of doctors’ appointment. They may not be able to handle their regular workload, or they only be able to work part time.

Is your policy up to date? Is your workplace HIV friendly?

The information on this web site will help you develop or update an HIV policy. It will also give you all the tools you need to educate employees about HIV and your policy. Choose from:

Why Do Workplaces Need a Policy on HIV? Making the Case
HIV/AIDS at Work: Some Common Questions and Answers About Workplace Policies
The CAS Guide to Creating HIV-Friendly Policy
Let's Talk: How to Communicate with Managers and Employees

Here is a pamphlet that can be distributed to partners and other members of your community. Feel free to download a copy, or order printed copies from the Canadian HIV/AIDS Information Centre. Visit their website for more information: www.aidssida.cpha.ca

Need help developing your policy? Click here to find the nearest CAS-member AIDS service organization to you!