Chair: Alison Gray, Bristol seminar participant
Facilitators: Andrew Little and Sarah Lang-Jones, UKC
Rapporteur: John Caldicott, NLTSG
This workshop was held twice and was attended by 35 people. The session aimed to enable participants to discuss issues, identify needs and explore how HIV and other organisations can meet these needs.
Participants were asked to consider the issues they faced around being in or going back to work.
Not surprisingly, this was one of the main concerns and participants shared their experience of disclosure. Some of the impacts of disclosure and reasons not to disclose were discussed, for example:
Attitudes of colleagues and employers
Clients reactions
Bullying
Harassment
One suggestion was to be vague if necessary ( managing disclosure and not necessarily having to reveal HIV status, but talking in terms of having a long term medical condition which is monitored by regular medical check ups)
Looking after health was a concern for people in work or wanting to work and how to manage the various aspects of living with HIV
Hospital appointments
Managing to take medication at work
Side effects
Ill health
Change of appearance
Accidents at work (there was a concern around the health and safety implications of HIV in the workplace if someone cuts themselves)
Loss of income/benefits
Leading a double life
Education resources
True protection under the law (akin to maternity rights)
Protection against discrimination from day one (from the point of diagnosis)
Support with legal issues
A best practice charter mark for companies with good policies
Model policies for other companies to adapt and adopt
Safe working environment
Occupational therapists
Employers need education based on awareness and training on the skills to support people living with HIV in the workplace
There is a need for a system of supporting people in work with the issues that they face when managing their HIV
It is important to continue lobbying for protection under the law and equality with regard to benefits such as pension provision, recognition of same sex partners, etc.
Provision of UK-wide support services to help explore the issues of disclosure
Training for job centres and hospitals on HIV awareness
More website and email services
Establish peer support networks to help those in work
This workshop was evaluated by 28 people. There was a wide age range, the youngest participant being 26 and oldest 62. The average age was 41.
Gender
14 male, 13 female, 1 not stated
Ethnicity
13 white, 11 black African, 2 black other, 2 not stated
Sexuality
14 heterosexual, 11 gay, 2 not stated, 1 bisexual
Employment status
11 not employed, 9 full-time, 5 part-time, 3 self-employed
Usefulness
Very useful |
Useful |
Not useful |
47%(13) |
39% (11) |
14% (4) |
9 people set themselves action points, for example:
Contact who can assist me back to work
Take closer look at what support I have at work
Seek local advocacy and support
Get up to date on DDA
Move on to Ask The Doctor