HIV/AIDS in the workplace : affected employees' perceptions of social work counselling services

Abstract

This research was conducted on a section of mine employees ranging from skilled to the least skilled mine workers in Goldfields Mine, Carltonville. The aim of the study was to assess HIV/AIDS employees’ perceptions of social work counselling services in the workplace. The researcher was employed at the Department of Social Services and Population Development where she attended weekly to HIV/AIDS employees who had been referred for treatment without providing any form of counselling within the workplace. Researcher’s subsequent research at Goldfields Mine was designed to probe what the affected employees’ perceptions of a social work counselling service was. The gathering of data during research comprised conducting interviews with the use of semi-structured interview schedules. Ten (10) male employees from Goldfields were used during the study. Purposive sampling was employed. Findings reveal that although counselling was provided at Goldfields Mine, Carltonville, a minority of employees indicated that the current counselling programme (workplace programme) is not adequate and that more time should be provided by management for counselling during working hours.