HIV and the right to obtain occupational training and state licensing Service providers are not required to disclose their personal HIV status in the workplace, as this is a personal choice that can have a positive or negative impact. Disclosing one’s status to coworkers can be of benefit in cultivating a support system among colleagues, or it can unnecessarily create stigma, causing coworkers to behave differently. When making the decision about whether to disclose, it is important to carefully consider which individuals to tell. Best practice would be to have a specific disclosure plan that takes into consideration who to inform, how to inform them, and expectations for third-party disclosure. Many employers offer employee assistance programs (EAPs), which can help employees handle disclosure at work and navigate personal issues that may affect performance, health, and/or well-being.
Information shared with EAPs is protected by confidentiality. Workplace discrimination based on HIV status is illegal, and there are regulations in place to assist anyone experiencing discrimination after disclosing their HIV status. Even though it is not required to disclose one’s status in the workplace, those living with HIV/AIDS do have the responsibility to disclose their status to healthcare providers (such as doctors, clinical workers, and dentists) and sex or needle-sharing partners under penalty of law. However, they are not obligated to disclose their status to all service providers and therefore may keep this information private when securing services. Again, all services should be provided using standard precautions, making client disclosure irrelevant to safety and prevention.
Conclusion While tremendous progress has been made, we have yet to conquer the HIV/AIDS epidemic. More than 700,000 people with HIV have died in the U.S., with an estimated 18,489 people with HIV dying (from any cause) in the U.S. and its dependent territories in 2020 (Kaiser Family Foundation [KFF], 2022). We must each play our part in increasing prevention efforts to save lives and improve the quality of life for those living with HIV. Despite the advances in treatment and therapies, people around the world still risk contracting and transmitting HIV. To conquer the disease and enter the next era of HIV prevention, we must be informed and consistent in our prevention and education efforts. At the same time, we must keep in mind that
although this is a serious disease, it is also a preventable disease, and the extra care that we take in our lives and in our salons can be the difference between life and death— not only for our clients, but also for ourselves.
WORKS CITED https://qr2.mobi/HIV-AIDS-Barbers
Course Code: BBFL0226
Page 7
Book Code: BBFL0226
EliteLearning.com/Barber
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