With the changes to the benefit system now upon us, more immediate for new benefit claimants.
I believe it would be a good idea to start a forum to gather our experience, thoughts & worries about the future and any potential work issues -
So to make a start I feel the following issues are relevant :
Work.
- Stigma and marginalisation as a barrier to equitable state engagement & the issue that most distances HIV+ people from the workplace, aside from current and future health issues.
- Existing training and skill sets within the Department and Work & Pensions (DWP) Job Centre Plus is poor, is not thorough, is not provided by recognised HIV specialists or professionals, lacks the complexity to match the complexity of the illness.
- Those with HIV/AIDS an out of the workplace for any period of time may require training with regard to revising or learning a skill set to make them marketable in the workplace.
- They may also need training in addressing interpersonal skill issues such as confidence building, self esteem.
- Disclosure of HIV to a potential employer with respect to liabilities deriving from the Health & Safety at Work legislation and Public (& any other) Employer liability insurance cover that may place additional barriers to HIV+ people gaining and retaining employment.
- Disability Discrimination Act needs strengthening to make dispute resolution easier to access and remove the barrier, placed by stigma, to those with HIV using the law to ensure their rights are upheld.
- Accessible training for potential employers on HIV+ in the work place.
- "Reasonable Adjustments" & the Access to Work programme.
- Retention in work.
Employment & Support Allowance.
- Stigma and marginalisation as a barrier to equitable state engagement, staff may act on personal bias.
- Existing training and skill sets within the Department and Work & Pensions (DWP) is poor, is not thorough, is not provided by recognised HIV specialists or professionals, lacks the complexity to match the complexity of the illness.
- How does the Support Allowance interact with Disability Living Allowance?
- What relationship will there be between the Work Capability Assessment and an existing Disability Living Allowance claim?
- What protections are in place with respect to "private contractors" and those with HIV that are using their employment services?
- Fluctuating conditions and the Employment & Support Allowance how will that work?
- Compromise Agreements or dismissal & benefits.
- Appeal process and reasonable time frames.
Just some initial thoughts I would really appreciate your comments from your point of view.
PDF version Just to explain OH is Occupational Health.
This is what I think we need to be hearing.
Not only what are out concerns but out experience of engaging with employment. It builds an anecdotal evidence base.
Thank you for taking the time to share here, you would expect the NHS to have a more enlightened approach.
John.
HI John
About two years ago I felt well enough to try to return to work as a health care professional with my local health authority. My initial interview with the education department proved promising and I decided to declare my HIV status to my interviewer who congratulated me on considering to return to the health service after many years of illness. She gave me great encouragement, accepting me to take a 1 year diploma in nursing at the local university on a return to nursing course subject to a health screening by occupational health.
This is where I feel the trouble started. At the interview the impression I got was that I would possibly be allowed to work but only in areas where I was deemed no risk to patients, whatever the risk was supposed to be? I explained to the OH nurse I had familiarised myself with the DOH guidelines on nurses with HIV being unable to work in certain areas and was happy with this. Then to be told I was obese and in fact clinically I was overweight slightly. Considering the person doing the interview was far more overweight than me I felt this person was not happy having a nurse with HIV working at her hospital and was looking for reasons not to employ me. The whole OH experience I found to be a negative one, and this comes from someone in the health care system which should be at the forefront of unbiased and non judgemental.
My point is that the government are expecting would be employers to employ HIV positive people, but after having this experience I fear there is still a lot of prejudice out there and this system will not work. I decided not to take the proposed offer any further due to the confidence battering I had taken from this certain individual. Psychologically this has turned me from being an outgoing enthusiastic nurse into somebody who has become isolated and trusts nobody.
There is definitely not enough back up for people with HIV should they decide to want to return to work, if the thing backfires, and blows up in one's face.
People with HIV should think very carefully on whether they wish to, or are forced to return to work, I thought it would be pretty straight forward, what a shock I got.
On reflection it is a good job I did not take the position as I am now considerably worse health wise.