To help educate job applicants and employees living with HIV of their employment non-discrimination rights, late last month the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) released a new publication, “What You Should Know About HIV/AIDS and Employment Discrimination." The EEOC, which enforces federal laws prohibiting employment discrimination, had committed to developing and disseminating such materials in the National HIV/AIDS Strategy Federal Action Plan.

This publication follows the two others that EEOC had released on December 1, 2015:

• "Living With HIV Infection: Your Legal Rights in the Workplace Under the ADA"
• "Helping Patients with HIV Infection Who Need Accommodations at Work"

The new publications were developed as part of EEOC’s efforts to support the National HIV/AIDS Strategy’s call to “strengthen enforcement of civil rights laws, and assist States in protecting people living with HIV from violence, retaliation, and discrimination associated with HIV status.” As noted in the newest publication, the EEOC “will continue to combat stigma and discrimination against people with HIV/AIDS in the workplace, educate the public on these issues, and do what is necessary to realize the President's vision under the National HIV/AIDS Strategy.”