January 2010

This factsheet gives introductory guidance. It:

• illustrates the benefits of implementing a workplace HIV and AIDS education programme
• provides a case study of Standard Chartered Bank’s approach
• includes the CIPD viewpoint.

What are HIV and AIDS?

HIV stands for Human Immunodeficiency Virus. It is sometimes referred to as a silent virus because people may be infected for many years with no recognizable symptoms and may unknowingly pass on the virus to others. HIV leads to AIDS, the Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome, a condition where the immune system is too weak to effectively defend the body against other illnesses.

The following statistics are taken from UNAIDS 2009 report on the global AIDS epidemic¹:

• 34.3 million people worldwide are living with HIV, most of whom are unaware of their status.
• 40% of new HIV infections are within the age group of 15-24 year olds.
• Since 1981, 25 million people have died from AIDS related illnesses.

The business case for HIV education

 
Business performance can be adversely affected with increasing costs and decreasing productivity as a result of HIV-related: absenteeism; staff turnover, low morale, and loss of skills. HIV impacted suppliers, clients and customers can also negatively impact revenue generation.

Employers have an excellent opportunity to educate their workforce about HIV and AIDS. There are several benefits to implementing a workplace HIV education programme:

• Proactively manage the operational risk of HIV and AIDS and maintain a healthy workforce.
• Provide greater awareness among staff as to why knowing their status is important, and an opportunity to access treatment if necessary.
• Reduce stigma.
• Employee engagement vehicle, easily implemented at low cost.
• Opportunity to develop employee skills outside boundaries of their usual business roles.
• Inexpensive way to contribute to local communities with far-reaching results.
• Maintain commitment to sustainable business in difficult economic times.
• Proactively contributing to the global fight against HIV and AIDS (in line with Millennium Development Goal 6).

Case Study: Standard Chartered Bank

Standard Chartered Bank plc is a London-headquartered group which has operated for over 150 years in some of the world’s most dynamic markets and derives 90% of its income and profits from Asia, Africa and the Middle East.

Standard Chartered became involved in HIV education in 1999 after determining that HIV was a key factor in declining business performance through HIV-related staff absenteeism in Africa.

HIV education is part of a clearly-defined, globally-implemented, non-discriminatory HIV and AIDS policy, and is mandatory for all staff.

‘Living with HIV’

Living with HIV is the brand for Standard Chartered’s HIV and AIDS workplace education and awareness programme, which aims to reduce the number of global infections by providing people with the key facts to make safe lifestyle choices. Standard Chartered shares its programme free of charge externally and, through the Clinton Global Initiative (CGI), has pledged to educate one million people on HIV and AIDS by 2010.

What is the difference between education and raising awareness?

 
In order to ensure employees have a good knowledge about HIV and AIDS, five key themes are addressed in all HIV education sessions:

• what is HIV and AIDS?
• what is risky behaviour and what is safe?
• prevention
• importance of testing
• positive living.

Getting the message across

 
Standard Chartered uses three vehicles to educate staff:

• face-to-face education
• online e-learning module
• Internet animated web-learning.

All vehicles address the five key themes given above.

Face-to-face education

This is the most effective way of conveying key facts and promoting behaviour change. Staff volunteers, called ‘HIV Champions’, run interactive HIV education sessions, based on a global standard toolkit that can be adapted to reflect local sensitivities. Each activity is labelled to indicate:

• whether most effective in high or low prevalence countries
• which key themes and messages it addresses
• any advance preparation required
• how long the activity lasts.

This enables the HIV Champions to mix and match activities depending on the length of the education session and the education level of the audience, yet still cover the key themes. The toolkit is available in 10 languages: English, French, Spanish, Arabic, Portuguese, Korean, traditional Chinese, simplified Chinese, Bahasa Indonesian and Thai.

Standard Chartered has over 1,200 HIV Champions in 50 countries.

E-learning

Protection and prevention of HIV can be self-taught by participants. ‘Living with HIV’ is part of Standard Chartered’s core curriculum; the e-learning programme is mandatory for all new joiners and all staff in the Bank must refresh their learning every two years. Six short modules can be completed at an individual’s own pace and when all modules have been completed, a quiz evaluates knowledge levels. A score of 80% is required to pass. This method of learning is very useful for satellite offices or in circumstances where there are not enough people to create a workshop.

This programme is available to all organisations – see the Useful Contacts section below.

Web-learning

The most recent venture for ‘Living with HIV’ is a dedicated interactive website called Anti HIVIRUS (see the Useful contacts section below) focusing on 15-24 year olds, a key age group for new HIV infections. The accessible, interactive information on offer is available to all and provides a fun and engaging way to learn about HIV and AIDS as well as key facts about prevention and protection against the virus.

Standard Chartered’s policy on HIV and AIDs

The Standard Chartered’s HIV and AIDS policy is a global HR policy designed to protect basic human rights. It showcases the Group’s commitment to providing information and education to all employees on HIV and AIDS. The aims of the policy are to preserve the integrity of its labour force, reduce costs associated with HIV/AIDS, and respond to what the company recognizes as a global challenge.

Key features of the policy include:

• Non-disclosure: HIV positive staff are not obliged to disclose their status and there is no pre-employment screening.
• Non-discrimination: Standard Chartered does not tolerate any form of discrimination or segregation.
• Prevention: Standard Chartered supports preventative behaviour and confidential testing, including free or nominal price access to condoms for staff.
• Care: Standard Chartered will provide care and treatment of any employee living with HIV and up for four members of their family.
• Education: All staff must complete the HIV e-learning programme on joining Standrd Chartered and repeat it every two years They are also encouraged to attend face-to-face education sessions.

How to partner with Standard Chartered Bank

 
Standard Chartered offers all of its HIV education materials to other organisations free of charge. The HIV Champions will work with the partners to tailor the materials, and will train trainers in partner companies. As of January 2010, over 50 companies have partenered with Standard Chartered pledging to educate 1.125 million people. For more information on partnering with Standard Chartered on the fight against HIV and AIDS, please contact Vanessa Green, Head of Community Investment at Vanessa.Green@sc.com .

CIPD viewpoint

CIPD believes that an HIV and AIDS policy is valuable in any company. Such a policy can include support and education of staff on key education topics, such as preventing spread of the virus, testing, and dealing with stigma in the workplace. Any basic policy should include non-discrimination and non-disclosure components. Standard Chartered’s ‘Living with HIV education programme covers an important and wide range of information and facts in regards to HIV and AIDS.

Useful contacts

• UNAIDS – HIV in the workplace

• Standard Chartered Bank’s Living with HIV Programme

• Anti HIVIRUS website from Standard Chartered

References

1. JOINT UNITED NATIONS PROGRAMME ON HIV/AIDS. (2009) AIDS epidemic update 2009. Available at: http://www.unaids.org/en/KnowledgeCentre/HIVData/
   EpiUpdate/EpiUpdArchive/2009/default.asp

Further reading

CIPD members can use our Advanced Search to find additional library resources on this topic and also use our online journals collection to view journal articles online. People Management articles are available to subscribers and CIPD members on the People Management website. CIPD books in print can be ordered from our online Bookstore

• Go to Advanced Search
• Go to our online journals collection
• Go to People Management online
• Go to our online Bookstore

Books and reports

EMPLOYERS` FORUM ON DISABILITY. (2005) A practical guide to employment adjustments for people with HIV. Briefing papers. London: Employers Forum on Disability.

INTERNATIONAL LABOUR OFFICE. (2002) HIV/AIDS and the world of work : ILO code of practice. Geneva: International Labour Office.

POSITIVE FUTURES PARTNERSHIP. (2004) Can people with HIV work? An employment perspective from the UK. London: Positive Futures Partnership.

This factsheet was written by Vanessa Green, Head of Community Investment at Standard Chartered Bank.

http://www.cipd.co.uk/subjects/health/general/HIV-AIDS-workplace.htm