Staff Well Being - HIV/AIDS in the Workplace
| Why AIDS is a workplace issue? | Key materials | Other UN Learning Materials |Why AIDS is a workplace issue?
AIDS is a workplace issue not only because it affects labour and productivity, but also because the workplace has a vital role to play in the wider struggle to limit the spread and effects of the epidemic.
Over 40 million people around the world are infected with HIV. At least 26 million are workers aged 15 to 49, in the prime of their working lives. The effects are felt by enterprises and national economies as well as workers and their families. The epidemic strikes hard at the most vulnerable groups in society including the poorest of the poor, women and children, exacerbating existing problems of inadequate social protection, gender inequalities, and child labour.
The epidemic affects the world of work in many ways:
- Discrimination against people with HIV threatens fundamental principles and rights at work, and undermines efforts for prevention and care;
- The disease cuts the supply of labour and reduces income for many workers;
- Valuable skills and experience are lost;
- Productivity falls in enterprises and in agriculture, and labour costs rise;
- Investment is undermined and tax revenue cut just as countries face more pressure on public services;
- The double burden on women gets heavier as they have to earn a livelihood and provide care to sick family members and neighbours.
Key Materials and Resources
- AIDS and HIV Infection: Information for employees of the UN System and their Families:
- a better understanding of the HIV/AIDS epidemic and its impact on the UN workplace;
- a demonstration of stronger support from management; and
- a reduction of the stigma and the feeling of discrimination.
- United Nations HIV/AIDS Personnel Policy:
- Information and education
- Preventive health measures
- Testing, counselling and confidentiality
- Terms of appointment and service
- Health insurance benefits
- An ILO code of practice on HIV/AIDS and the world of work:
- (a) prevention of HIV/AIDS;
- (b) management and mitigation of the impact of HIV/AIDS on the world of work;
- (c) care and support of workers infected and affected by HIV/AIDS;
- (d) elimination of stigma and discrimination on the basis of real or perceived HIV status.
- We Care Initiative:
- ensuring the full implementation of the UN Personnel Policy on HIV/AIDS and ILO Code of Practice on HIV/AIDS and the World of Work;
- ensuring that all staff members have at any given time 100 per cent access to anti-retroviral treatment;
- facilitating the access to adequate care, treatment and support for staff members;
- ensuring that all staff members have access to voluntary confidential counseling and testing (VCT);
- enhancing prevention through information, education and training;
- ensuring the protection of the rights of those affected by HIV/AIDS;
- providing a supportive workplace environment free from discrimination and stigmatization.
The website Living in a world with AIDS and HIV: Information for Employees of the United Nations System and their Families, is the result of a joint initiative between UNAIDS and the UNDG organisations. Its primary objective is to improve learning opportunities for UN staff members on HIV/AIDS.
This website should help to achieve the following:
UN HIV/AIDS Personnel Policy was approved by the Executive Heads of all UN organizations, through the Administrative Committee on Coordination (ACC), in April 1991. It underlines the principles and strategies regarding the impact of HIV/AIDS on the United Nations workplace.
Describing the main elements of UN's personnel policy regarding HIV/AIDS which bounds all organisations within the UN system, the document covers the following themes:
Powerpoint presentation on the UN HIV / AIDS Personnel Policy.
The objective of this code is to provide a set of guidelines to address the HIV/AIDS epidemic in the world of work and within the framework of the promotion of decent work. The guidelines cover the following key areas of action:
This Initiative is being fully financed by UNDP. The Office of Human Resources (OHR) and the
Bureau for Development Policy (BDP), HIV/AIDS Unit, in UNDP have the joint responsibility of the
project.
The main objective of "We Care" is to support selected countries in achieving the following results:
Phase I, launched in 2002, covers 10 countries, namely, Botswana, Egypt, Haiti, Lesotho, Malaysia, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Swaziland; and Ukraine.
Launched in 2003, Phase II covers 12 new countries, namely, Argentina, Benin, Cameroon, Central African Republic, China, Republic of Congo, Ghana, Honduras, Malawi, Nepal, Tajikistan and Trinidad & Tobago. The countries were selected taking into consideration a certain geographical balance, relevant criteria, including varying incidence and prevalence rate of HIV/AIDS.
Other Learning Materials Developed by the UN Related to HIV/AIDS in the UN Workplace
- UNAIDS: HIV/AIDS in the UN System Workplace
This collection of reference documents on HIV/AIDS in the UN workplace is available on-line and on a CD-Rom which was sent to all UN offices. It includes the above noted booklet, facilitation guides, slides, questionnaires and documents that can be used in learning initiatives.
- UNAIDS:
"Key Steps in Establishing Local HIV/AIDS Care and Support for UN Staff
& Their Dependants"
This document aims to outline the key steps in developing local HIV/AIDS care and support programmes for UN staff and their dependants. The steps provide a generic framework to be adapted and prioritised for local conditions. Though they are presented in an order of priority, many of them can be implemented concurrently. The steps include providing staff and their families updated information, education and other preventive health measures to enable the staff to protect themselves from HIV infection and to cope with the presence of AIDS.
- UNDG/UNAIDS:
Orientation Session on AIDS and HIV Infection
UN organizations combined their efforts to develop an orientation session to introduce the above booklet. A facilitator's guide to introduce the booklet and "further promote...a culture of tolerance and understanding..." was developed along with a PowerPoint presentation of slides.
- UNHCR:
Peer Support Network Training
This one-day workshop was designed by UNHCR for introducing an HIV/AIDS peer support network. The workshop's objectives are (1) Review the theoretical aspects of HIV/AIDS (2) Understand the psychosocial needs of the persons living with HIV/AIDS in the workplace and at their home (3) Understand the role of the Peer Support Person in the context of staff and their families living with HIV/AIDS (4) Be aware of the elements of the prevention and sensitisation programme on HIV/AIDS in the workplace (5) Know how to identify local resources in different environments (6) Feel confident and comfortable to discuss HIV/AIDS related issues with colleagues in the office (7) Be available and able to support an individual living with HIV/AIDS in the workplace.
- WFP:
HIV/AIDS Awareness and Prevention for Staff
In May 2002, WFP developed a 2 hour briefing session design to introduce HIV/AIDS to staff. The briefing includes: (1) Defining and describing HIV and AIDS; (2) Discussing how HIV is and is not transmitted; (3) Explaining ways to prevent HIV infection and transmission; (4) Explaining HIV testing; (5) Discussing UN employment policy related to HIV/AIDS; (6) Discussing the importance of confidentiality and non-discrimination in the workplace; and (7) Explaining the PEP (Post-Exposure Preventive) Treatment Starter Kit. The briefing includes detailed notes and instructions for the facilitator with presentation ideas, slides and discussion suggestions.
- WHO:
PEP Guidelines
Post Exposure Preventive (PEP) Treatment is an emergency medical response for individuals exposed to the HIV virus. Guidelines were produced when PEP kits were sent to all UN country teams. There is a PowerPoint presentation designed to introduce PEP.
- World Bank: HIV/AIDS in the Workplace Information Folder
In February/March 2001, the World Bank distributed an HIV/AIDS in the Workplace Information Folder. It contained easy reference sheets on the medical aspects of the disease, the Bank Group's employment policy, medical and disability benefits, and sources of help. The information folders were distributed desk-to-desk, both in Washington & country offices. The Folder included the following specific documents: (1) A message to all staff from the World Bank Group President; (2) UNAIDS Booklet: "AIDS and HIV Infection: Information for United Nations Employees and Their Families" and (3) a brochure on free, HIV Antibody Testing and counselling services available in Washington, D.C. Materials are available in English, French, Spanish, Portuguese, Swahili, Chinese, Russian and Arabic.
- World
Bank: Frequently Asked Questions about HIV/AIDS
The World Bank has put together a set of FAQs on HIV/AIDS as well as information sheets on HIV/AIDS policies, medical insurance coverage, etc.
The following materials are globally-produced UN materials,
either by UNAIDS or by individual organizations. The list may not be comprehensive,
but includes materials made available to the learning strategy project
thus far. The materials listed below can be found on the UN Learning Strategy
website:
http://www.developmentgateway.org/unhivlearning