You just found out that you are HIV+..should you tell your employer? (employed, job)

[cathy J.]

One of my very best friends today had received a phone call from his doctor to inform him that he is HIV+.

For the last four years he has been employed at one of our local malls as a mall cop ( Think Kevin James & Seth Rogen in their recent movies ).

Should he tell his boss about him having HIV or is it really a case of "..its none of your damn business"?

His concern is that somebody somewhere would contact his employer, tell them about the HIV and, of course he will end up getting fired over it. Myself, I don't see how this is even possible since, well with all of those patient confidentiality laws already in place and besides if his employer did find out through a third party isn't HIV a protected class?

[NJBest]

He should not tell the employer. Employer cannot fire him because of it but can find another reason to do so. The only way he could lose his job is if he has a job that puts other people directly at risk. Such a job would be a nurse or something similar.

[Opyelie]

Being HIV positive is a protected class disability under ADA so the employer wouldn't want to use that as a reason to fire him.

I think if he was in a position where it may be a health risk for others he has to inform the employer, but if not, then it's up to him I'd say.

[Opyelie]

NJ, get outta my head = )

[manderly6]

I would imagine the only time it should be communicted is if it either somehow put the public at risk or started to impact his work.

And I can't imagine someone contacting his boss and telling him.

[SouthBound47]

I could just imagine the risk though. The mall cop grabs someone trying to run, they get cut, and he thief gets AIDS.

Now, I'm for strict punishment of criminals, but that too severe...

I think that the right thing to do is tell his employer, but I could understand if he didn't.

[STT Resident]

Originally Posted by SouthBound47

I could just imagine the risk though. The mall cop grabs someone trying to run, they get cut, and he thief gets AIDS.

Now, I'm for strict punishment of criminals, but that too severe...

I think that the right thing to do is tell his employer, but I could understand if he didn't.

Because he's HIV+ doesn't mean he has AIDS.

[annerk]

There is no reason to disclose the HIV+ status to the employer. The above scenario could just as easily happen with a customer who trips over a fixture in a store and lands on another customer. Should we simply sequester everyone who is HIV+? How about those with hepatitis or any number of other contagious diseases? Ridiculous.