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12/01/20
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Working with HIV: Volkswagen is flying the flag against discrimination

Today, people can live and work with HIV just like anyone else – yet they experience disadvantages in their everyday lives. By signing the #positivarbeiten (#workingpositively) declaration, Volkswagen Group has committed itself to protecting HIV-positive employees from discrimination and to promoting an open and respectful coexistence.

Working with HIV: Volkswagen is flying the flag against discrimination
Elke Heitmüller: “HIV status is not relevant to professional activities at Volkswagen. Free from discrimination, every employee can contribute their full potential.”
Elke Heitmüller, Head of Volkswagen Group Diversity Management, signed the declaration in time for World AIDS Day on December 1 at the Deutsche Aidshilfe (German AIDS Service Organization) in Berlin. “By signing the declaration, Volkswagen is sending a clear signal for diversity. We are thus underlining our commitment to a discrimination-free environment: HIV status is not relevant to professional activities at Volkswagen. Free from discrimination, every employee can contribute their full potential,” says Heitmüller.
Since 2019, the LGBTIQ* and friends network “We Drive Proud” has been promoting respect, tolerance and diversity at Volkswagen. “Education is a key element of our network activities. There is a lot of ignorance about HIV and the AIDS disease. That’s why it is important to convey that HIV-positive individuals can carry out any activity,” explains network spokesperson Thore Masekowitz.
Thore Masekowitz: “There is a lot of ignorance about HIV and the AIDS disease. That’s why it is important to convey that HIV-positive individuals can carry out any activity.“

The declaration #positivarbeiten / #workingpositively states: “Whether at work, in a partnership or in leisure time: With timely diagnosis and therapy, HIV today no longer needs to entail any restrictions. People with HIV can pursue any profession. They are just as capable as other people. An HIV transmission in the daily work routine is impossible, under therapy HIV is generally no longer transmissible. HIV-positive employees are colleagues like everyone else.”

By signing the declaration, Volkswagen has committed itself to protecting people with HIV and other chronic illnesses from discrimination and to sensitizing managers to the issue. Volkswagen is thus making it clear that employees with HIV are welcome and can show themselves openly if they wish.

#positivarbeiten / #workingpositively was developed in Germany by Deutsche Aidshilfe together with other enterprises. Around 100 companies and organizations have signed the declaration. In the meantime, the initiative has developed into an international movement in countries such as the USA, Canada, Austria and the Czech Republic. In addition to its efforts against discrimination, Volkswagen has been involved in HIV prevention at international locations for many years.

Facts about HIV and career

  • With HIV you can grow old today and live like everyone else.
  • With HIV you can pursue any profession.
  • HIV-positive people are not sick more often.
  • A transmission of HIV is impossible in everyday working life.
  • People with HIV are colleagues like everyone else.

More on the subject

Diversity is a strong competitive advantage

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Transsexuality at Volkswagen:
„I have come home“

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No person should have to hide their personality

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The specified fuel consumption and emission data have been determined according to the measurement procedures prescribed by law. Since 1st September 2017, certain new vehicles are already being type-approved according to the Worldwide Harmonized Light Vehicles Test Procedure (WLTP), a more realistic test procedure for measuring fuel consumption and CO2 emissions. Starting on September 1st 2018, the New European Driving Cycle (NEDC) will be replaced by the WLTP in stages. Owing to the more realistic test conditions, the fuel consumption and CO2 emissions measured according to the WLTP will, in many cases, be higher than those measured according to the NEDC. For further information on the differences between the WLTP and NEDC, please visit www.volkswagen.de/wltp.

We are currently still required by law to state the NEDC figures. In the case of new vehicles which have been type-approved according to the WLTP, the NEDC figures are derived from the WLTP data. It is possible to specify the WLTP figures voluntarily in addition until such time as this is required by law. In cases where the NEDC figures are specified as value ranges, these do not refer to a particular individual vehicle and do not constitute part of the sales offering. They are intended exclusively as a means of comparison between different vehicle types. Additional equipment and accessories (e.g. add-on parts, different tyre formats, etc.) may change the relevant vehicle parameters, such as weight, rolling resistance and aerodynamics, and, in conjunction with weather and traffic conditions and individual driving style, may affect fuel consumption, electrical power consumption, CO2 emissions and the performance figures for the vehicle.

Further information on official fuel consumption figures and the official specific CO2 emissions of new passenger cars can be found in the “Guide on the fuel economy, CO2 emissions and power consumption of new passenger car models”, which is available free of charge at all sales dealerships and from DAT Deutsche Automobil Treuhand GmbH, Hellmuth-Hirth-Str. 1, D-73760 Ostfildern, Germany and at www.dat.de.