The topic for this debate is “Should HIV positive workers have to tell their employers of their status? "

whatukno will be arguing the "Pro" position and will open the debate.
SemperParatusRJCC will argue the "Con" position.

Each debater will have one opening statement each. This will be followed by 3 alternating replies each. There will then be one closing statement each and no rebuttal.

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Thank you Semperfortis for setting up this debate, and thank you SemperParatusRJCC for agreeing to this topic.

Opening Statement…

“Should HIV positive workers have to tell their employers of their status?”

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It’s a question of safety

It’s an interesting question isn’t it? At first glance one might be inclined to think that it would be a question of doctor patient confidentiality. But doesn’t an employer have the right to know about a potential hazard at the workplace? Doesn’t an employer have the obligation to help prevent loss of time and the health of their employees?
With proper treatment HIV is no longer a death sentence. It is treatable even if there is no cure at this time. This means that a person with HIV should expect to live a longer more productive life. They should also expect that with this knowledge and knowledge of how to prevent the spread of this disease they can make others safer including those in the workforce.

This is why the employer should know about the person’s HIV status.

I believe that HIV positive employees should be required to inform their employer of their status. I also believe that the employee should be protected under the law from discrimination due to their HIV status.

It boils down to safety in my opinion. Safety in the workplace is of the utmost importance. An employee that is HIV positive, if injured may pose serious health risks to others who may attempt to help the employee in the event of an injury. Precautions need to be taken and prevention techniques need to be established as to minimize risk to other employees in the event of an accident.

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It’s a question of transparency

The employer should have no requirement to tell other employees of the HIV positive status of the individual. However it is in the company’s best interest to be informed as to ensure that employees are protected from the risk of infection. Typically in most working environments the chance of infection from an HIV positive employee is low. However if an injury occurs it is important that people are aware of the hazard in order to avoid potential infection.

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It’s a question of health care cost

In this debate I will show how informing the employer of HIV positive status is a benefit to the safety of all concerned. Minimizing potential risk is key to a positive and safe working environment. I will show that despite the risk, knowledge is key in order to maximize the potential work production and decrease health care costs to both the employer and employees.

I will also show that with the proper additional anti discrimination laws in place a HIV positive employee can be a productive and positive member of a workforce. This will show that individuals affected with the virus can be beneficial to a company workforce and not a hindrance. But the lack of knowledge to the employer is a detriment.

This is why a HIV positive employee should be required to inform their boss of their positive status. It's not only a question of morality. It is a question of safety for everyone involved.

You shouldnt tell your employers if you have HIV. Its the only way for you to get a job.

Its a Question of getting a job

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If you walk into a job interview, you need to hide the fact that you have HIV, because that is a huge check against you. If they know that you have HIV you are less likely to get the job, due to the health risks that you pose. If you get cut while you are cooking in a restaurant, it would be a danger zone. Then your employer would have to call the CDC to find out how to clean it up properly. Where as if you dont tell them, You can get cut, clean everything up in a hurry, throw it away, and clean yourself up, there would be no problems from the management.

In my opinion, if I was an employer, I would have ignored the comment of them having HIV, and then after the interview, I would have said no. It would have been my duty to protect my crew from any form of viral infections.


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It's a question of advancement.

They would think of you as a liability, therefore hindering any chances of advancement. Because they would try and keep you as far away from themselves as possible. they wouldn't try to take the chance of them themselves getting infected. Your position would probably be in the back cleaning the dishes, but even then, If you wash the dishes and you just so happen to cut yourself under the water. All those things are contaminated.


If you let them know. There will be a very slim chance that you would get hired, and if you did you would always be on the chopping block. They wouldn't want you there unless they were sure that nothing would happen as to compromise the safety of the rest of the crew.

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It is a question of situation.

If you are jobless with HIV, you walk into an interview knowing that the employer may or may not ask you about your HIV, take a look at your personal life. Do you live in a shack on the outside of town. With no one to help you, if so then you shouldn't let them know. It may be your last shot to get what you need, to actually start having the comforts of your won home. To actually have food. Just stay careful, don't get hurt and everything would be fine.

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The question asked is "should you tell your employer if you are HIV positive????" I believe you shouldn't because in a day and age like this. You are competing with people who have nothing physically wrong with them. Chances are that the healthy hopefuls will get the job before you. Keep your disease quiet then everything should go smoothly.

I request my 24 hour extension at this time...

[color=Purple]I humbly request my 24 hour extension. [/color] One cannot argue without first doing tons of research. I shall have my retort within the extension.

Wow i cant find anything else to defend the con side. I respectfully bow out of the debate. It was a good debate. I hope we can have another very soon perhaps with a topic I know a lot better.

HIV is a blood borne pathogen. Which means that your blood must come into contact with cells infected with the virus in order to become infected. Normal every day work even in close proximity to an HIV+ person, the risk of infection is infinitesimal. Intimate contact, such as hugging and or kissing won’t increase that risk any. We all know what really causes HIV to be passed on, which is unprotected sex (non monogamous), sharing of needles, and blood-to-blood contact. If you can avoid these three instances in the workplace, your chances of getting HIV from a co-worker is less than the chances you have winning the lottery.

Knowledge is power and if your employer completely understands the above paragraph there is no need to hide the fact that one is HIV+ in any work environment. The risk of infection in normal every day circumstances are next to nothing.

But there is a need to know, safety in the workplace is paramount. And this leads to my first Socratic question of this debate, it’s one that everyone should think about. The answer is very important.

[color=Yellow]How often do you get tested for HIV?[/color]

To be frank and personal? I’ve been tested once, by proxy, when my ex wife and I learned that we became pregnant with my son, a standard battery of STDs was preformed. The result was negative. Of the above list of criteria my chances for contracting HIV are low. But shame on me, I haven’t had one after my marriage ended.

Even by accident, you infect someone, if you knowingly conceal the fact that you are HIV+ Isn’t that attempted manslaughter at least? If you share needles or engage in unprotected sex doesn’t that count as willing attempted murder?

Employers need to know. It is in the best interest of everyone involved. It reduces liability on the part of employer and the employee.

Given the side effects from HIV+ Medication and the risk of infection there may be some tasks an employer might not let you do for safety reasons.

I am quite certain that any employer can find safe work for a HIV+ employee to do especially in certain industries. In my line of work, I rarely even touch anyone. My risk of infection is very low. If even existent.

Yes HIV will limit a person from many, many jobs. However one can adapt. One can find work out there that their status is a non-issue.

A hypothetical situation:

You are an HIV+ person working aboard let’s say a cargo vessel. An occupational hazard knocks you unconscious and bleeding. Your employer knows that you are HIV+ and can thus use the proper safety measures in order to get you the help you need without exposing the risks to other workers.

Socratic Question # 2 is this not a better scenario than if your employer and you co-workers weren’t informed?

Socratic Question #3 How would you feel if you potentially contaminated an innocent person? A friend? Your lover?

The stigma of HIV needs to go away, instead what needs to be done is put the information out there. Get tested, know. Be safe in what you do & with whom you do it with.

HIV doesn’t make a person less qualified for most positions.

HIV qualifies as a pandemic. Left untreated the effects on a population can be devastating. Today the lack if media attention to this issue is once again leading to an increase in reported cases of new infections. In some parts of DC the new cases of HIV diagnosis is more than it is for Africa.

The cure for HIV is information, testing and treatment.

HIV can be extinguished in a few generations. With testing, information and treatment HIV can be obliterated from the globe in three or four generations. That’s as simple as it can get. Testing is key to the obliteration of this disease, as well as information.

Imagine this day, The day that everyone can have a little meter strip detector that can sample blood to the point of knowing in an instant of any virus, pathogen and disease just by submitting a drop sample? Would you carry one? How much do you trust that person? Would it be worth it to ask for a blood sample? Would you give one?

With knowledge all things are possible. I say in three generations with knowledge alone, HIV can be eradicated.

whatukno wins by default

Semper