Thesis (MBA)--Stellenbosch University, 2000. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: No disease in modern times has created as much fear and panic as HIV/AIDS - undoubtedly one of the most formidable public health problems facing South Africa today. Traditionally, HIV/AIDS has not been regarded as a workplace issue, except for "high-risk" professions such as surgeons, dentists and emergency medical technicians. The stark reality is that HIV/AIDS will have an impact on all sectors of society and all aspects of human activity throughout South Africa. Because of the nature of the spread of the disease, it hits predominantly sexually active people. These are the people that make up the workforce. It can therefore be expected that HIV/AIDS will impact directly on the patterns of employment in South Africa. Furthermore, the economic consequences of the epidemic will result in pressures on the South African economy, which again will influence employment. Apart from affecting the general population, HIV/AIDS will have a direct impact on businesses in various areas. HIV/AIDS will also have a significant impact at community level that will, in turn, impact on businesses. If business in South Africa is to survive, these impacts have to be managed so that productivity can be maintained and costs can be contained. The objective of this study is to explore the impact of HIV/AIDS on employment by examining the South African labour market. From the study, it is clear that South Africa is certain to experience severe consequences arising from the HIV/AIDS epidemic. Even without taking the immense impact of HIV/AIDS into account, there are various problems facing the' South African labour market. Specific problems discussed are unemployment, low productivity and a shortage of skills. These are not the only problems associated with the South African labour market, but the extent of these problems is further exacerbated by the impact of HIV/AIDS. All sectors of the society need to be mobilised into action. This action must encompass both prevention of the spread of the disease, as well as caring for the sick and dying. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Geen ander siekte in die moderne tyd het al soveel vrees en paniek geskep as MIV/VIGS nie ongetwyfeld een van die mees formidabele gemeenskapsgesondheidsprobleme wat Suid-Afrika huidiglik in die gesig staar. Oorspronklik was MIV/VIGS slegs met die werksplek geassosieer in terme van "hoë-risiko" beroepe soos dokters, tandartse en nood mediese personeel. Die naakte waarheid is dat MIV/VIGS 'n impak sal hê op alle sektore en aspekte van die samelewing in Suid-Afrika. As gevolg van die aard van die verspreiding van die siekte, tref dit hoofsaaklik seksueel aktiewe persone. Hierdie persone is die lewensaar van die arbeidsmag. Dit kan dus verwag word dat MIV/VIGS 'n direkte impak op werkverskaffingspatrone in Suid-Afrika sal hê. Die ekonomiese gevolge van die epidemie sal verdere druk veroorsaak op die Suid-Afrikaanse ekonomie, wat op sy beurt werkverskaffing sal beïnvloed. Buiten die impak van MIV/VIGS op die algemene bevolking, sal die siekte ook in verskeie areas van die besigheidsektor 'n uitwerking hê. Verder sal MIV/VIGS 'n aansienlike impak op gemeenskapsvlak hê, wat op sy beurt weer 'n uitwerking sal hê op besighede. As besighede in Suid-Afrika wil oorleef, moet hierdie aanslae so bestuur word dat produktiwiteit gehandhaaf word en kostes onder beheer gehou word. Die oogmerk van hierdie studie is om die impak van MIV/VIGS op werkverskaffing te ondersoek deur na die Suid-Afrikaanse arbeidsmark te kyk. Van die studie is dit duidelik dat Suid-Afrika ernstige konsekwensies as gevolg van die MIV/VIGS epidemie kan verwag. Selfs sonder om die ontsaglike impak van MIV/VIGS in ag te neem, is daar verskeie probleme wat die Suid-Afrikaanse arbeidsmark in die gesig staar. Spesifieke probleme wat bespreek word is werkloosheid, lae produktiwiteit en 'n tekort aan gespesialiseerde vaardighede. Alhoewel hierdie nie die enigste probleme is wat met die Suid-Afrikaanse arbeidsmark geassosieer word nie, word die spesifieke probleme vererger deur die impak van MIV/VIGS. Wat vereis word is dat alle sektore van die samelewing moet oorgaan tot aksie. Hierdie aksie moet beide die voorkoming van die verspreiding van die siekte, sowel as die versorging van die siekes en sterwendes omvat.

Thesis (MBA)--Stellenbosch University, 2003 / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: National and international studies on the impact of the HIVand AIDS epidemie, create a picture of serious negative effects on the South African economy, together with immense suffering and despair for her people. The untimely death of millions of people due to a disease is totally unnatural and basically unimaginable and it is therefore not surprising that people, organisations and government tend to shy away from the problems. Businesses drive growth and development, mobilise investment, nurture innovation, provide employment, develop skills, pay taxes and provide returns to investors. Outside the political arena businesses is the only group that do have the capacity and resources to make a major and effective contribution to the fight against the HIV and AIDS epidemic. This study provides a theoretical introduction to HIV and AIDS but more importantly it indicates that the business world has woken up to the threat of the HIV and AIDS epidemic and are reacting to it. The study concludes that the battle is not won as yet. There is room for improvement and major enhancements are required to current strategies and programmes to make it more effective. Eskom was selected as the case study to substantiate the abovementioned opinions and conclusions. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Nasionale en internasionale studies oor die impak van die MIV en VIGS-epidemie dui op die ernstige negatiewe gevolge vir die Suid-Afrikaanse ekonomie. Dit veroorsaak ook geweldige lyding en wanhoop onder mense. Die ontydige dood van miljoene mense weens 'n siekte is heeltemal onnatuurlik en ondenkbaar. Dit is daarom geen wonder nie dat mense, organisasies en die regering daarvan wegskram. Sakeondernemings dryf groei en ontwikkeling, mobiliseer beleggingsmoontlikhede, moedig vernuwing aan, skep werkgeleenthede, ontwikkel vaardighede, betaal belasting en verskaf 'n opbrengs aan beleggers. Buite die politieke arena is sakeondernemings die enigste groep wat die kapasiteit en hulpbronne het om op grootskaal 'n doeltreffende bydrae te lewer tot die bekamping van die MIV en VIGS epidemie. Die studie is 'n teoretiese inleiding tot MIV en VIGS. Die belangrikste aspek wat na vore kom, is dat sakeondernemings wakker geskrik het oor die bedreiging van MIV en VIGS en dat hulle daarop reageer. Die studie kom tot die gevolgtrekking dat die geveg nog nie gewen is nie. Daar is baie ruimte vir verbetering en grootskaalse veranderinge is nodig om die huidige strategieë en programme meer doeltreffend te maak. Eskom is as gevallestudie gebruik om bogenoemde menings en gevolgtrekkings te ondersteun.

The purpose of the research was to explore the challenges faced by both employer and employee when the later undergoes active cancer treatment from a systemic perspective. A qualitative research was conducted using a case study of six sessions with both employer and employee. The study revealed that the employer and employee defined their relationship and boundaries as a system. The research project made a great impact on the researchers’ map regarding cancer or any other symptom, the person with cancer and the employer. In the researcher’s old map, before the research project, cancer implied a very threatening disease which rendered both the employer and the employee helpless and powerless. Through the research project the researcher discovered the significance of not having preconceived ideas as according to this study both the employer and employee had the freedom to punctuate their challenges in relation to the latter undergoing active treatment. / Social Work / M. A. (Social Science (Mental Health))

With greater advancement in medical treatments for individuals with Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS), a growing numbers of individuals living with HIV/AIDS are contemplating returning to the workplace. However, they have been faced with barriers to employment and have demonstrated a need for vocational rehabilitation (VR) services. The purpose of this study was to identify predictors of employment outcomes of individuals living with HIV/AIDS, who used the state/federal VR program services, using the Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA-911) data file from Fiscal Year 2006. Data analyses were conducted using descriptive statistics, bivariate analyses (chi-square analyses, independent t-tests, and ANOVAs), and binary logistic regression using cross validation. Results of the study indicated that of socio-demographic, health, and VR service variables, service variables were only found to be significantly related to employment outcomes. Job search assistance, job placement assistance, and on the job support were found to be significant predictors of successful employment outcomes at closure. In addition, higher costs of purchased services increased the likelihood of being employed at closure. However, the longer the length of VR program participation was, the lower the likelihood of being employed at closure was. Among participants with successful employment outcomes at closure, differences were significant between participants earning less than $200.00 per week and participants earning equal to or higher than $500.00 per week. Participants with less than $200.00 of weekly earnings were more likely to be African Americans, to have lower education levels than an associate degree at closure, to have service occupations or clerical and sales occupations, and to receive SSI, SSDI, Medicaid, and Medicare. On the other hand, participants with equal to or more than $500.00 weekly earnings were more likely to be White, to have higher education levels than an associate degree, and to have professional and managerial occupations and were less likely to receive SSI, SSDI, Medicaid, and Medicare. In addition, they were more likely to receive assessment, VR counseling and guidance, college or university training, job search assistance, transportation, maintenance, and information and referral services compared to those with less than $200.00 weekly earnings. Implications for practice and suggestions for future research are discussed. / text

Thesis (MComm) -- University of Stellenbosch, 2004. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: In this study, existing data were used to conduct a descriptive research study into the adherence or lack thereof - in varying degrees - of South African companies to the ten key principles of the International Labour Organisation's Code of Practice on HIV/AIDS and the world of work with regard to HIV/AIDS workplace policy content. The research showed that most policies prohibit pre-employment testing and make provisions for job security, protection from discrimination, and ensuring confidentiality. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Hierdie studie het ten doel gehad om die mate waartoe ondernemings hulle onderwerp aan die ILO voorskrifte te toets. Resultate toon daarop dat verskeie ondernemings reeds gedeeltelik daaraan voldoen, maar dat daar nog verskeie aspekte van die Kode is wat in Suid-Afrikaanse onderneming in werking gestel moet word.

No abstract available / Jurisprudence / LL.M.

The HIV and AIDS pandemic is arguably the greatest threat facing the world today. The pandemic has a far-reaching impact on society, including the workplace. The effect in the workplace is observed in various areas including a reduction in certain skills levels, mortality and declining job performance of employees living with HIV or AIDS. In addition, the fear of discrimination and stigmatisation prevents infected employees from disclosing their HIV status, thus driving the pandemic underground. Despite the potential negative impact that is looming, many employers still do not have any workplace support programmes in place to manage HIV and AIDS in their organisations. However, some employers have implemented workplace support programmes. This research thus explored the influence of workplace support programmes on the job performance of employees that were living with HIV or AIDS. The findings suggest that job performance is positively influenced where workplace support programmes have been implemented. / Industrial and Organisational Psychology / M.Comm. (Industrial and Organisational Psychology)

The purpose of this research was to explore HIV/AIDS stigma in the workplace, with a special focus on the stigmatised. The sample consisted of 10 HIV/AIDS positive employees. A qualitative interview schedule was designed. The interview guide was used to facilitate one-on-one interviews with each participant. An analysis of the data revealed that the majority of the participants were shunned by family, friends and partners. Others were too ashamed or afraid to reveal their positive status. The majority of the participants did not feel comfortable revealing their positive status to their line managers and to their co-workers. All participants felt that others viewed people living with HIV/AIDS as dirty and unclean and many had been exposed to stigmatising behaviours towards them due to their HIV/AIDS positive status. As a coping mechanism, most participants noted that they would walk away if stigmatised against. Recommendations were made to address HIV/AIDS stigma in the workplace. / Industrial and Organisational Psychology / M. A. (Industrial and Organisation Psychology)

The purpose of this hermeneutic phenomenology study was to explore and describe the meaning employees attribute to the lived experiences of returning to work after cancer treatment. Semi-structured interviews were held with eight participants and a thematic data analysis method was used. The results indicate that cancer survivors experience various challenges that make it difficult to function as they did before the diagnosis when they return to work. A critical hermeneutical reflection against the literature followed the structural analysis and resulted in a contextual framework that incorporated the individual and organisational perspective on the various influences involved in supporting cancer survivors to maintain their wellbeing when they return to work. Four phases, repression, comprehension, activation and reintegration, were identified when they tried to cope/adjust on their return to work. The corresponding forms of organisational support they expected through these phases were labelled motivation, information, navigation and stabilisation. / Industrial and Organisational Psychology / M. Com. (Industrial and Organisational Psychology)

Magister Legum - LLM / This thesis examined to what extent the current legislation protects the HIV positive employee against unfair discrimination and dismissal. The study gave short medical background to HIV/AIDS and introduced HIV discrimination by giving the historical background to HIV related discrimination. From this, the extent of stigmatization against this group was introduced. / South Africa