Telling your employer

Some employers offer very good support to people with HIV, and the UK Disability Discrimination Act makes it illegal to discriminate against someone at work because of their HIV status.

If you're worried about your employer knowing then it's good to remember that in most cases, there should be no reason your employer would need to know that you have HIV. Even if you need to have a lot of time off sick, there is no need for your employer to know that HIV is the cause. Your doctor does not have to write HIV on a sick note or report - a vague term like 'chronic viral illness' or a description of the symptoms you have been experiencing is likely to be an acceptable substitute.

Colleagues may also ask you questions about reasons for appointments at the hospital or with your doctor, or about your sickness absenses. It can be useful to think about how you would reply to such questions.

You may have a trusted colleague at work and you may consider telling them. There can be pros and cons and you should think about these. One the one hand, you may find another source of support, but at the other extreme you could find that information about your HIV becomes common knowledge.

Once again, you may find it useful to talk to someone you can trust, or to discuss the issues involved with someone at your clinic, such as a health adviser, or a helpline such as THT Direct 0845 12 21 200.