annual report 2009
HIV/AIDS
The group has a formal HIV/AIDS policy in place, aimed at combating the spread and minimising the impact of HIV/AIDS on our employees as well as promoting non-discriminatory practices. This policy has been communicated to all existing employees, is available on our intranet and is included in the sign-on pack for all new employees.
In an effort to minimise the impact of HIV on our staff as well as attendant costs to the group, access to free and confidential HIV testing and counselling are provided to all employees through an external network of pharmacies managed by Occupational Care South Africa (OCSA). Employees are encouraged to ascertain their HIV status in order to enable them to take responsibility for their health. Those employees whose status is negative are encouraged to adopt safe behaviour to retain this status, whilst those who test HIV-positive are encouraged to enrol on a world-class disease management programme offered by QUALSA. All treatment is confidential and provided free of charge to permanent employees so that they can remain healthy and can work productively for as long as possible.
This benefit has been available to all members of the Foschini Group Medical Aid Scheme since 2005 and was launched to uninsured staff in September 2006. To date, 767 staff members have had an HIV test through this programme. Of these, 62 are HIV-positive and treatment is being provided to 40 through this disease management programme. Some of our employees are registered with other programmes funded by their own medical aid schemes while others receive treatment from the state.
According to a risk assessment commissioned by the group and conducted by the Health Monitor Company in 2005, it was estimated that 7,0% of the company’s employees would be HIV-positive in the calendar year 2008 (for 2007 their estimate was 6,99% and for 2006 it was 6,86%). The estimated average cost to the group for 2008 associated with HIV infection without any intervention was R11 685 per HIV-positive permanent, permanent part-time and flexitime employee, equating to a total group cost for that year of R11,03 million. This cost was based on all potential incremental costs, including paid sick leave, funeral costs, lost productivity, increased group life and disability expenses, cost of training and lost expertise, additional cost of incapacity as well as generally increased medical costs.
To date the direct measurable cost to the group has been substantially less. For the past year, it amounted to R325 900 before taking into account recoveries from medical schemes.
Ongoing free and confidential on-site HIV counselling and testing continues to be available through the clinic at the head office in Cape Town and features prominently during the group’s annual Wellness Days at the head office in Parow as well as at the regional office in Isando.
Following on from the success of a pilot voluntary counselling and testing campaign launched in the 2007 calendar year, three further campaigns were undertaken in 2008. Under the banner of “Retailers United Against HIV/AIDS”, 295 employees from the group and three other concerned retailers provided free voluntary counselling and testing. Plans are well under way to expand this successful initiative to additional shopping centres and bringing on board more retailers.
In November 2008, the group launched an HIV benefit for all its Namibian employees through a series of information sessions hosted in Windhoek, Swakopmund and Walvis Bay. Representatives from New Start, a non-governmental organisation that offers free and confidential HIV testing, as well as the risk equalisation fund, Health is Vital, attended these sessions. The group has contracted Health is Vital to provide free and confidential treatment for HIV-positive employees through its Vitality programme. The projected annual cost to the group of providing this benefit is N$91 800.
