Factors Associated With Food-Industry Discrimination Related to the Hiring and Retention of Persons With HIV/AIDS
O'Brien, Gerald Vincent
This item is only available for download by members of the University of Illinois community. Students, faculty, and staff at the U of I may log in with your NetID and password to view the item. If you are trying to access an Illinois-restricted dissertation or thesis, you can request a copy through your library's Inter-Library Loan office or purchase a copy directly from ProQuest.
Permalink
https://hdl.handle.net/2142/87344
Description
Title
Factors Associated With Food-Industry Discrimination Related to the Hiring and Retention of Persons With HIV/AIDS
Author(s)
O'Brien, Gerald Vincent
Issue Date
1997
Doctoral Committee Chair(s)
Charles Cowger
Department of Study
Social Work
Discipline
Social Work
Degree Granting Institution
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Degree Name
Ph.D.
Degree Level
Dissertation
Date of Ingest
2015-09-28T15:52:06Z
Keyword(s)
Sociology, Industrial and Labor Relations
Language
eng
Abstract
Persons who are assumed to have HIV/AIDS are often subject to various forms of employment discrimination. Such actions may be taken because of an employer's fear of contagion or the presumed response of co-workers, customers or others, fears of increased insurance costs, preexisting prejudice against gay men or intravenous drug users, and other reasons. One industrial sector where such discrimination appears to be widespread is the food-service industry. Many employers in food-service establishments believe that the known or rumored presence of an infected worker in their business will drive away customers, and result in substantial loss of revenue. Of course a major reason for this concern surrounds unsubstantiated fears of HIV contamination. The present study gauges the feelings of sixty-eight independent food-service supervisors in Illinois. It focuses specifically on the consequences that employers feel may follow in the wake of a known infected employee, the degree to which employers might take discriminating actions against persons, and the knowledge employers have of HIV contagion in the workplace. This study found that both the fear of consequences and the potential for discrimination were quite high, and significantly correlated with one another. Specific factors that employers noted as being principle sources of concern include the possible loss of customers, and the degree of disruption that might occur in the workplace resulting from a suspected case of HIV/AIDS among employees.
Use this login method if you
don't
have an
@illinois.edu
email address.
(Oops, I do have one)
IDEALS migrated to a new platform on June 23, 2022. If you created
your account prior to this date, you will have to reset your password
using the forgot-password link below.
