Aids In The Workplace Essay, Research Paper

Aids in the Workplace

Facts on existing cases

Aids is now the second leading cause of death among Americans between the ages of 25-44. More than 50% of the workforce is in this age group. 16% of large businesses have been impacted by the Aids epidemic, while 1 in 16 small businesses have been impacted by Aids. Severe stress (caused by work or home) may hasten the progression of the early stages of HIV. This is why the workplace should be prepared to deal with these types of situations.

Where to go?

There are two organizations that deal with Aids in the workplace:

1. Business Responds to Aids (BRTA)

2. Labor Responds to Aids (LRTA)

The Business Responds to Aids and the Labor Responds to Aids Resource Services is centralized information and referral service that links callers from businesses and labor with resources designed to help them prepare to manage issues related to HIV/AIDS in the workplace. The service was developed in conjunction with workplace education experts and business and labor leaders. Aids-in-the-workplace specialists answer questions, distribute materials, make referrals, and identify resources for callers from small and large organizations throughout the country. They also provide assistance to help workplaces set up effective HIV/AIDS programs. A comprehensive program is made up of five components:

1) Policy development

2) Manager / Labor Leader Training

3) Employee education

4) Education for Employee’s Families

5) Community Service and Volunteerism

What is the law for?

Crimes of violence such as murder, rape and assault, stand at the core of any criminal code. All these crimes involve significant harm to others. The culpable transmission of the HIV virus to an “innocent” individual, or acts involving significant risk of such transmission, must be seen at least prima facie is at that core too. After all, to contract Aids is to suffer significant harm. Therefor, prevention of the culpable transmission of Aids to innocent individuals is prima facie, a proper concern of the criminal law.

If we lived in a world in which everyone behaved in a morally responsible manner all the time then we could expect that the incidence of AIDS, in the advanced western nations at least, would soon begin to fall. Unfortunately, however, we do not live in such a world. Individuals cannot be relied upon to always act in a way that will minimize the risk of transmitting Aids to previously uninfected individuals.