Management responses to HIV/AIDS in South African workplaces

Abstract

There are concerns that HIV/AIDS will impact on South African workplaces. This article reports on some of the findings of a baseline national cross-sectional study of 383 companies, each with more than 50 employees. Issues of HIV/AIDS policies, responsibility for workplace programmes, perceived and measured impact of HIV/AIDS and the response of companies are reported. Findings from this survey are compared with results from four other surveys viewing HIV/AIDS and companies. In line with other surveys, the findings indicate limited responses on the part of workplaces. Unreliability of perceptions and lack of impact measurement are highlighted. We argue that this lack of measurement reflects widespread strategic failure on the part of South African management. This failure is resulting in a de facto shift of workplace responsibility for the burden of the disease onto individuals, communities and society.