Living with HIV

This article was written by AIDS Calgary’s SHIFT Team Lead

People living with HIV & AIDS (PHAs) are living longer, healthier, and more active lives. This is great news on numerous levels, but it also raises many questions about long term health and wellness. One of those questions surrounds employment. Most people throughout their lifetime are actively involved in employment. Being involved in the workforce can enhance a person’s life with a sense of purpose, social and community connections, personal & professional growth opportunities and financial stability. While maintaining or returning to work can add quality of life, there are many challenges PHAs face in the area of employment.

In Canada, HIV is recognized as a permanent medical condition which makes people eligible for disability and to be protected under labour laws. The Canadian Human Rights Code also applies, meaning that employers cannot discriminate against people with disabilities, including HIV and AIDS. This does not mean, however, that maintaining or returning to work for PHAs is easy. Labour force participation has been identified as a critical social issue facing PHAs in Canada. Recent studies suggest that 42%-62% of PHAs in developed countries are unemployed and numerous barriers to work exist for PHAs in Canada.

First, a barrier can be around the very nature of HIV itself. HIV is an episodic disability, which means that at some point a PHA may be experiencing a time of health and wellness, able to work, and yet at another times experience a period of illness. This creates a very challenging experience for PHAs to maintain employment or plan their careers. Additional, the PHA's work environment may not be able to accommodate such changes in health. It is imperative that those living with HIV negotiation a flexible work schedule and have accommodations in their workforce.

HIV and disclosure is another key area of concern. PHAs do not have to disclose their HIV status to their employer or coworkers, however many may feel that they have or want to. For those that do not, they may feel a sense of isolation and deceit in keeping a large part of their life hidden. Alternatively, disclosure in the workplace opens up the very real possibility for PHAs to experience stigma & discrimination.

If a PHA is returning to work, it might mean giving up the financial security of accessing long term disability support and risk experiencing financial insecurity should there be a change in health or the discovery of the inability to maintain fulltime employment. Returning to work may also mean explaining gaps in a resume, or having to retrain for new work if an old field of work is no longer physically possible for a PHA.

It is important that those living with HIV are supported to be actively involved in employment. A large portion of PHAs are within their prime employment years and have great skills to offer the workforce. Employers need to be aware of the challenges PHAs may face and be able to have training and awareness to address stigma, as well as effective workplace policies that contain job accommodation and supportive benefits.

HIV and Employment: Exploring the Challenges and Facilitators of Labour Force Participation and Programs for People Living with HIV/AIDS in Canada

Employment provides income and may promote social engagement and self-determination for People living with HIV/AIDS (PHAs). Labour force participation has been identified as a critical social issue facing PHAs in Canada. Recent studies suggest that 42%-62% of PHAs in developed countries are unemployed and numerous barriers to work exist for PHAs in Canada. Currently there is a critical need for initiatives that promote increased employment opportunities for PHAs.

Despite high unemployment levels among PHAs in Canada, research has consistently demonstrated that a large number of PHAs are considering returning to the workforce or are maintaining paid employment. Several factors have been reported as influencing employment for PHAs. Significant among these are issues such as the episodic nature of the disease, emotional and psychological difficulties, workplace discrimination, lack of flexible income protection programs and lack of a supportive policy structure. To date, very little research has been done to document the influence of employment on the health status and quality of life of PHA’s in Canada. There is a clear need for research that is grounded in the perspectives and experiences of PHAs.

AIDS Calgary is supporting a PhD student research project that will document the experiences of employed PHAs in order to better understand their employment experiences and to identify factors that facilitate their continued labour force participation. It is hoped that this study will support policy development and community programming for PHAs. A community advisory committee will guide all phases of the research. Information from the study will inform a PhD research project exploring the issue of HIV and employment.
A PhD student researcher is currently interested in interviewing adults (18yrs+) living with HIV who have successfully been in the workforce (full or part time) for three months or more.

Participants will take part in an individual interview and will be asked about their employment experiences. Interviews will take approximately 60-90 minutes. All participants will receive a $25.00 honorarium.
Interviews will be scheduled at a time and place that is most convenient for participants.

If you are interested in taking part in this study or would like more information, please contact:Brent Oliver toll free at 1-866-872-8688 or at boliver@ucalgary.ca