In 1982, a group of Levi Strauss & Co. employees requested permission to distribute educational literature about AIDS. The group felt it was important to provide the available information, but they feared employees would shun the booth, thinking the staffers were gay or infected with the AIDS virus. Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Robert Haas, now Chairman and CEO of the company, suggested that senior managers—himself included—help staff the booth to alleviate these fears and communicate the importance of educating employees about the disease. This act of compassion and courage set the tone for the company’s response to AIDS. It was also the impetus for numerous initiatives that led to the company’s reputation as an international leader in AIDS issues.
From the beginning, Levi Strauss & Co.’s response to AIDS focused on two areas: workplace education and community involvement. Employee groups in San Francisco began AIDS volunteer activities in 1982, and formal education of employees began in 1983. Soon after, the Levi Strauss Foundation began making AIDS grants.
A pioneer in workplace HIV policy, the company represented U.S. business in 2001 at the International Labor Organization Tripartite Meeting of Experts on HIV and the world of Work to develop a wo9rkplace code of practice that sets global standards for workplace policies on HIV/AIDS. Through their leadership, the meeting adopted policy that promotes nondiscriminatory workplace environments through education, benefits programs and prevention and treatment strategies.
Levi Strauss & Co. encourages its employees to participate on Community Involvement Teams, which have given 8,300 hours of volunteer time globally. The company has also made $206,500 in grants to the community organizations where volunteers worked. Levi Strauss & Co. allows its employees to volunteer five hours of paid time per month. In 2002, the company made $2,600,00 in 69 grants to organizations to challenge the stigma attached to HIV/AIDS, support disproportionately affected communities, and for risk reduction.
Nationally and internationally, Levis has provided a model for what a corporation can do when its culture, vision, and resources are committed to fighting AIDS.
