CII's Workplace Policy >>

CII’s Workplace Policy is closely linked to the Code of Practice it has laid down for organizations. It is a forward-looking document guaranteeing rights and safeguards for employees infected and affected by HIV/AIDS. The main tenets of the CII Workplace Policy on HIV/AIDS are:

1. The organisation will provide a safe and healthy work environment for employees.
   
2. CII will educate its employees and their families on prevention, care and counselling of HIV/AIDS.
   
3. CII will educate its employees on safe blood, blood donation and transfusion.
   
4. If an employee has been infected, information about the illness would be kept confidential by CII. Only the immediate boss would be kept advised to prevent any eventuality.
5. A HIV positive employee would be allowed to continue to work in his/her job unless medical conditions interfere with the specific job that he/she is doing. In that case and, only if it is necessary, will the employee be shifted to another position where he/she will be comfortable.
6. If an employee reveals his/ her HIV positive status voluntarily, other employees will not be allowed to refuse to work alongside the HIV positive employee. In fact, CII will expect all employees to ensure that the HIV positive employee is comfortable and gets a feeling of being part of the family.
7. CII will not discriminate against any employee infected by HIV/AIDS with regard to promotions, training and any other privileges applicable to all employees of the organisation.
8. While CII may ask a person who is being offered a job, to undergo general medical tests before the issue of the appointment letter, the test will not cover HIV/AIDS, without an informed consent and pre-test counselling of the candidate.
9. CII will educate its employees and encourage them to participate in voluntary counselling and testing. However, HIV/AIDS tests will not be a part of any annual or time-to-time health check up, without the employee’s informed consent and pre-test counselling.
10. CII will ensure that care and treatment are available to employees with HIV/AIDS. CII will ensure that 100% cost of the antiretroviral drugs (ARVs) is provided to the employee. The arrangements for treatment will be made at hospitals pre-identified by CII and payment will be made directly to the service provider. Other (non- ARV) HIV/AIDS related costs will be covered as per CII’s Medical Policy.

It is hoped that this policy will help build positive and supportive attitudes towards those infected and promote health and safety amongst the employees.