Discrimination against HIV sufferers?
Are you at risk of a claim? Under the Disability Discrimination Act 2005 (DDA), discriminating against workers diagnosed with HIV is illegal. This applies from the point of diagnosis rather than when any symptoms appear. According to a MORI poll commissioned by the National Aids Trust, 35% of people remain unaware that discrimination against HIV sufferers is illegal. The research also found the following:
• Only 57% would feel comfortable working with an HIV sufferer.
• Only 46% of young people thought that those living with HIV could work like anyone else.
• 7% believe that those with HIV don’t deserve the same kind of support as those diagnosed with cancer.
Protect yourself. When you review your equal opportunities policy, ensure that you include a section on HIV. It should clearly state that any form of discriminatory behaviour against a sufferer is illegal and could result in disciplinary proceedings. The policy should also clarify that staff aren’t at risk of contracting HIV in a business environment (this should cut down on the ignorance of the condition that often leads to discriminatory behaviour).
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