Regardless of current government policy, SA companies have acknowledged that HIV/AIDS is the single greatest threat to the SA economy and society. In keeping with the spirit of empowerment of previously disadvantaged persons in SA, most companies are putting into place programmes and strategies to educate their employees and the public about this dreaded pandemic.

THE BEADS4AFRICA INITIATIVE

MANAGING HIV/AIDS IN THE SA WORKPLACE

HIV/AIDS will have a devastating effect on the SA economy. To meet this challenge, SA companies have incorporated the effects of the pandemic into those factors perceived as a direct threat to business.
A major result of this acknowledgement are educational and awareness programmes. These programmes incorporate consultation with various affected parties and tend to focus on the establishment of infrastructure to deal with the effects of the disease in the workplace and inform employees of the pandemic, means of healthier living and prevention thereof.
The most important result of any corporate initiative is total commitment to the programme and thus countering the prejudice still incurred by sufferers from the manifestation of ignorance and fear in others.

ESTIMATES & EFFECTS

The latest estimates are that around 4.7 million South Africans are infected with HIV (more than 10% of the national population) with 1500 additional cases each day. Business leaders have warned that companies may have to train 3 people for every job because of the expected death toll.
A higher percentage of infection per capita can be found in KwaZulu-Natal, due the province being home to at least 10% of the population. Results from some studies conducted are startling: the bigger the company, the more they are paying attention to this serious issue. Only 4.5% of businesses employing less than 50 people have a formal HIV/AIDS policy, as opposed to 80% of companies employing over 1000 employees. Only half of companies employing over 251 and under 1000 feel they have sufficiently dealt with the issues at hand.
AIDS Survey Results - In Summary
The survey comprises information from more than 60 organizations of all sizes, across all business sectors, with an average staff compliment of 2226.

THE IMPACT OF HIV/AIDS IN THE WORKPLACE

21% of respondents envisage the HIV/AIDS pandemic will have an extreme impact on their organisations; 58% envisage a moderate impact; and the remaining 21% envisage little or no impact.

Only 69% of respondents had a formal HIV/AIDS policy.

27% of participants have commissioned an HIV/AIDS risk analysis (the demographics of an organisation's workforce are quantified against the national prevalence thus assessing the current and future HIV/AIDS risk).

A quarter of the organizations have commissioned an HIV/AIDS impact analysis (this quantifies the current and future costs - both direct and indirect - associated with the organization's risk analysis).

In 65% of organizations, the Human Resource manager or department is responsible for directing HIV/AIDS strategy. In 25% of companies that role is fulfilled by Managing Directors or CEOs.

8% of companies implemented HIV/AIDS policies between 1990 and 1994; 41% implemented their policies between 1995 and 1999; 31% only began in 2000; and 20% as late as 2001.

Amalgamated Beverage Industries Ltd (ABI: SA national bottler of Coca Cola products) reported that the HIV/AIDS crisis was the most damaging influence on its full-year results; having more of an impact on weak consumer spending than cellular phones, the national lottery and gambling.

HIV/AIDS AWARENESS AND EDUCATION PROGRAMMS

The most popular resource for conducting HIV/AIDS training is health care personnel (79%) and outsourcing trainers (36%), with HR practitioners much lower at 13%.

In terms of HIV/AIDS awareness/education, participating companies made use of posters and pamphlets (69%), free condom provision (69%) condom promotion and education (53%),newsletter (49%), detailed brochures (42%),

Videos (36%), in-house seminars and workshops (31%), in-house lectures (29%), outsourcing seminars/workshops and lectures (29%) and industrial theatre (16%).

In 47% of the responding organisations the HIV/AIDS education sessions are compulsory for all employees.

35% of HIV/AIDS education programs have been extended beyond the workplace, mainly to families of employees.

Most companies measure the success of their HIV/AIDS education programmes by the level of interest of their employees (67%), condom utilisation levels (57%) and knowledge levels of employees (43%).