Abstract
This research project looks at the perceptions of an Employees Wellness
Programme (EWP), at Nissan South Africa (NSA) as expressed by lowest
strata employees. In this study lowest strata employees are black males who
receive, bin, pick or dispatch parts at the Parts or Accessories (P&A)
warehouse.
The literature reviewed suggests that a good EWP should offer the
following: HIV/AIDS awareness campaigns, condom usage and distribution,
Voluntary Counselling and Testing (VCT) and free HIV/AIDS treatment.
This qualitative case study shows that lowest strata employees
perceive the NSA’s EWP to be an effective programme. This is supported by
findings that show the respondents are aware of HIV transmission and
prevention measures. However, there is room for improvement in the areas of
VCT and HIV/AIDS treatment.
The challenge for the workplace is implementation of an EWP because
participation in the programme is voluntary. This qualitative case study offers
recommendations, which might assist NSA’s EWP to more effectively address
the HIV/AIDS-related needs of lowest strata employees. These
recommendations are as follows: the VCT programme and education on antiretroviral
drugs should be conducted at shorter intervals, partnerships should
be formed with local traditional healers and non-profit organisations that are
working on HIV/AIDS projects. Also, since this study has focused on one
strata of employees, further research is suggested on skilled workers, who in
NSA, are mostly white males. Lastly, similar studies could be conducted in
workplaces across the motor industry and the manufacturing sector at large.
Professor Anton Senekal
Mrs Bronwyn Dworzanowski