Constraints and enabling factors in the implementation of an HIV/AIDS policy in a South African retail company

Abstract

There is increasing awareness of the need to maximise the welfare of HIV positive employees in the workplace. This comes from a recognition that no business is immune from the direct effects of HIV/ AIDS. The private sector is, however, in a unique position to more effectively respond to this epidemic and mitigate the associated social and commercial risks as a result of the nature of its contact with its employees. In the fight against HIV/ AIDS, firms have a moral and commercial obligation to act in order to preserve their human capital – their most valuable asset. The study has its origins in a deceptively simple research question: What are the prevailing factors that impede and enable the effective implementation of HIV/ AIDS policy in a South African retail company? The study will enable the company to identify the obstacles and enablers that exist when transforming HIV/ AIDS policy into practice. Semi structured interviews were conducted with twelve store employees across four stores in order to identify these perceived constraints and enabling factors. A themed content analysis was conducted on the responses and information gathered from these interviews. The first finding of this study was that the major hindrance to the effective implementation of an HIV/ AIDS policy within the company was confidentiality, stigma and discrimination, inadequate communication and culture. The second finding was that factors facilitating the effective implementation of an HIV/ AIDS policy in the workplace were a high degree of organisational commitment, a bottom up approach that encouraged staff involvement, a performing programme that delivers results and interventions that are sustainable; continuing to deliver desired outcomes in the medium to long term. Any successful HIV/ AIDS intervention strategy in the workplace must therefore take these constraints and enabling factors fully into account.