HIV generally affects people in the most productive period of their working life.  This means that they affect business.  Addressing this issue is not just a moral one - it affects your bottom line.  From SABCOHA: "Research shows that if companies invest in prevention and treatment programmes, the savings outweigh the costs. Providing care and treatment for HIV-positive employees can reduce the financial burden of HIV/AIDS by as much as 40 percent."

 

 

 Depending on the economic sector of your business, the exposure of your business to HIV related risk will vary.  But between 15% and 35% of your employees are likely to be HIV+.  If your business has a large number of employees, or have a workforce that travels a lot, or are involved in the transport industry, your business risk is considerably higher.  

 

 

 The business is directly affected by lower productivity, absenteesism, retraining costs and inexperience to name the most obvious impacts. 

 

 

 The most obvious step, if you are in a position to do so,  is to start an HIV workplace progrmme.  It does not have to be expensive, "bells and whistles" affair.  There are simple, easy to implement steps to assist your business to manage the risk of HIV.  

 

 

 The larger South African corporattions have all recognised that HIV affects their business.  If they have taken this step, seeing how much it will cost them if they do nothing, can your business afford to do nothing?  Remember - its not about how much the progrmame costs.  It is about doing something within your parameters that is relevant for your staff.