AEGiS-PRn: National AIDS Fund Survey Finds HIV-Positive Employees May Face Continuing Workplace Discrimination

Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 1997. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.

National AIDS Fund Survey Finds HIV-Positive Employees May Face Continuing Workplace Discrimination

PR Newswire, 810 Seventh Avenue, New York, NY 10019 - Tuesday October 28 8:26 AM EST

WASHINGTON, Oct. 28 /PRNewswire/ -- Despite more than a decade of public education on AIDS, and federal laws that protect the rights of HIV-positive employees, more than 30 percent of employees recently polled by the National AIDS Fund said they believe an HIV-infected employee would be fired or placed on disability by their employers at the first sign of illness. An additional 13 percent think their employer would restrict an infected employees' benefits. When employees were asked what their employers should do more than 21 percent said they favor firing or restricting the infected employee.

Two-thirds of employees polled also said they believe their coworkers would feel "uncomfortable" if forced to work beside an HIV-positive employee.

The findings are the result of a survey conducted for the National AIDS Fund by Caravan Opinion Research. The survey of employee attitudes on HIV/AIDS was designed to measure change from employee attitudes last surveyed in 1992.

"Fewer employers are offering AIDS-related educational programs now than five years ago, though more than half of those employees surveyed cite the threat of AIDS as one of their top three personal health concerns," said B.J. Stiles, President and CEO of the Fund. "Unfortunately, the numbers indicate diminishing interest in HIV/AIDS as a workplace issue by employers. We find that particularly alarming in the face of an apparent increase in intolerance toward the HIV-positive employee.

"In addition, we are seeing more HIV-positive people wanting to leave the disability rolls and return to work as a result of improved HIV/AIDS drugs and therapies," Stiles said. "A supportive workplace with knowledgeable and cooperative coworkers must greet those HIV-positive employees if their return to work is to be successful."

Although personal concern about AIDS has decreased during the past 10 years, the survey found the impact of AIDS on individual lives has increased. In 1992, 28 percent of all adults and 34 percent of private-sector employees knew someone with AIDS or who was HIV positive. Today, 39 percent of all adults and 46 percent of employees know someone who is or was infected.

Results from the study were based on interviews with a representative sample of about 2,000 adults living in private households in the United Sates. Other survey findings include:

* Employees report company support of AIDS-related activities has remained steady over the past five years.

* The younger an individual, the more likely he or she is to be personally concerned about AIDS. Similarly, employees under 25 are the most supportive of company sponsored AIDS-related activities.

* In 1992 and 1997, African-American employees showed a greater personal concern about AIDS than white Americans (AIDS is mentioned as the top health concern by 45 percent of African-Americans vs. 25 percent of white Americans).

* Female employees are more likely to believe that there should be an organized AIDS education program in the workplace than male employees (80 percent vs. 67 percent)

The National AIDS Fund is the nation's largest philanthropic and grantmaking organization dedicated to reducing the incidence and impact of HIV/AIDS by promoting leadership and generating resources for effective community responses to the epidemic. Its 32 Community Partners in cities across the U.S. support HIV/AIDS programs that annually provide direct care and services to more than half a million people whose lives have been touched by AIDS.

Funding support for the survey was provided by AT&T. Copies of the complete survey are available from The National AIDS Fund.

SOURCE National AIDS Fund

Copyright (c) 1997/PR NewsWire. Reproduced with permission. Reproduction of this article (other than one copy for personal reference) must be cleared through the Permissions Desk, PR Newswire, 810 Seventh Avenue, New York, NY 10019.
971028
PR971016

Copyright © 1997 - PRNewswire. All rights reserved. Reproduced with permission. Reproduction of this article (other than one copy for personal reference) must be cleared through PRNewswire, Permissions, 810 Seventh Ave., 32nd Floor, New York, NY 10019 http://www.prnewswire.com.

AEGiS is a 501(c)3, not-for-profit, tax-exempt, educational corporation. AEGiS is made possible through unrestricted funding from Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS, Elton John AIDS Foundation, National Library of Medicine, and donations from users like you.

Always watch for outdated information. This article first appeared in 1997. This material is designed to support, not replace, the relationship that exists between you and your doctor.

AEGiS presents published material, reprinted with permission and neither endorses nor opposes any material. All information contained on this website, including information relating to health conditions, products, and treatments, is for informational purposes only. It is often presented in summary or aggregate form. It is not meant to be a substitute for the advice provided by your own physician or other medical professionals. Always discuss treatment options with a doctor who specializes in treating HIV.

Copyright ©1980, 1997. AEGiS. All materials appearing on AEGiS are protected by copyright as a collective work or compilation under U.S. copyright and other laws and are the property of AEGiS, or the party credited as the provider of the content. .