It is important to focus and coordinate HIV/AIDS workplace efforts. Establishing a team of members from various parts of the organization is an effective way to accomplish this. Each program focus area-policy, education, training, and philanthropy-could be assigned to one of the team members. These members become the Team Leaders for those particular efforts, taking responsibility for accomplishment of goals in their focus areas. These leaders could be recruited from various parts of the business, including leadership, management, administration, and human resources as well as the larger employee body. Recruiting broad company representation ensures that plans and activities have buy-in and involvement from various levels as well as from leadership within the company.
It is also critical to engage the leadership of the company in this effort, so as to secure the buy-in of key decision makers with regard to company policy and use of resources. Share the results of the assessment with leadership to highlight areas of concern and to establish the need for action. This is also important in securing and allocating resources that are needed to implement the program.
The inclusion of leadership will also prompt the inclusion of all stakeholders with regard to a workplace HIV/AIDS program. Stakeholders, or all those who influence or are affected by the program, should be part of the program. This includes managers, employees from various parts of the company (such as human resources and administration), as well as employees living with HIV/AIDS. All these members can ensure the inclusion of their perspective in designing and developing the program.
