Employee wellness programmes and the HIV/AIDS related needs of lowest strata employees: Nissan, Rosslyn

• Main Author: Maleka, Molefe Jonathan
• Published: 2008
• Subjects: Employee health promotion; Employee assistant programs; Occupational health services; AIDS (Disease) prevention
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/10210/542

This research project looks at the perceptions of an Employees Wellness Programme (EWP), at Nissan South Africa (NSA) as expressed by lowest strata employees. In this study lowest strata employees are black males who receive, bin, pick or dispatch parts at the Parts or Accessories (P&A) warehouse. The literature reviewed suggests that a good EWP should offer the following: HIV/AIDS awareness campaigns, condom usage and distribution, Voluntary Counselling and Testing (VCT) and free HIV/AIDS treatment. This qualitative case study shows that lowest strata employees perceive the NSA’s EWP to be an effective programme. This is supported by findings that show the respondents are aware of HIV transmission and prevention measures. However, there is room for improvement in the areas of VCT and HIV/AIDS treatment. The challenge for the workplace is implementation of an EWP because participation in the programme is voluntary. This qualitative case study offers recommendations, which might assist NSA’s EWP to more effectively address the HIV/AIDS-related needs of lowest strata employees. These recommendations are as follows: the VCT programme and education on antiretroviral drugs should be conducted at shorter intervals, partnerships should be formed with local traditional healers and non-profit organisations that are working on HIV/AIDS projects. Also, since this study has focused on one strata of employees, further research is suggested on skilled workers, who in NSA, are mostly white males. Lastly, similar studies could be conducted in workplaces across the motor industry and the manufacturing sector at large. === Professor Anton Senekal Mrs Bronwyn Dworzanowski