AEGiS-Bangkok Post: Turning tragedy into triumph: Japanese firm sees employee's illness as opportunity to raise awareness

Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 2002. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.

Turning tragedy into triumph: Japanese firm sees employee's illness as opportunity to raise awareness

Bangkok Post - December 9, 2002
Aphaluck Bhatiasevi

When his employers discovered the illness from which he was suffering was a result of him being HIV-positive, 26-year-old Somchai feared he would lose his position within the Japanese electronics firm and become a subject of discrimination for his colleagues.

Somchai learned of his HIV status after a check-up at Navanakhon Hospital, while he was suffering skin rashes and constant diarrhoea. The hospital also informed his employer, Rohm Apollo Electronics Co, based in Pathum Thani

But Somchai was lucky to have an understanding supervisor, who not only defended him against the employer, but used his case to raise awareness and understanding of the disease among other workers.

"It was very difficult for us in the beginning. We knew we had to support employees with HIV... but we also had to assure others they would not contract the virus," said Vanisa Thanomboon, of the firm's employee relations department. Ms Vanisa explained the situation to her bosses and was successful in convincing them it was an opportunity to strengthen the bonds with their workers.

"We showed our fellow employees the firm was willing to help, in all circumstances," she said. "Even people with HIV/Aids are not left to struggle alone." Ms Vanisa said employees of the firm now had such a high understanding about the issue that they regularly donated cash to help their HIV-positive colleagues pay for anti-retroviral drugs.

As part of the company's HIV/Aids awareness scheme, free condoms were made available in the toilets.

However, many employees preferred to buy their own, from vending machines outside the toilets, said Ms Vanisa.

Aside from benefiting carriers of HIV/Aids, the firm's policy had strengthened the team spirit of it workers.

"Our Aids policy is not just a company policy," she said.

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