Employment continues to present challenges for those of us living with HIV. Dealing with side effects, intermittent illness and time away from work for doctor’s appointments and pharmacy visits, requires flexibility on the part of employers. The management of disclosure, the impact of breaches of privacy and potential discrimination within the workplace, can make getting and keeping a job more difficult.
We can assist people living with HIV (PLHIV) who are employed to understand their employment rights and responsibilities, manage career change, financial planning, disclosure and privacy issues, and to advocate for the flexibility to maintain our health and life balance while also working. We will also use this work to consider ways to work with employers and unions regarding these issues.
Your rights in the workplace
Discrimination in the workplace because of your HIV status is illegal in NSW. PLHIV are not required to disclose their HIV status in the workplace with the exception of two instances
- Some health care workers who carry out exposure prone procedures (EPPs)
If you feel you are being treated badly at work because of your HIV status, it is better to seek legal advice as soon as possible.
HIV/AIDS Legal Centre - A free legal service available to anyone with an HIV/AIDS related legal matter Tel: (02) 9206 2060 or Web: www.halc.org.au
Disclosing your HIV status: a guide - contains the relevent law as it applies in NSW Australia at June 2013. (This document will be updated in 2015)
