A fifth of employees with HIV who disclose the condition to colleagues report discrimination.

Despite the fact that with new treatments HIV has little impact on employees' ability to do their jobs, the National AIDS Trust (NAT) reports the stigma around the condition still exists.

NAT surveyed 1,800 gay men who were HIV positive and found 60% had been able to tell people at work. More than half (53%), however, feared poor treatment from colleagues and 57% worried about breaches of confidentiality.

And 40% who had disclosed their HIV status in a previous job had experienced discrimination there and claimed they had lost their job as a result.

Deborah Jack, NAT's chief executive, said: "The overall picture for people with HIV at work is a positive one. It is important for employers and HR professionals to realise people with HIV can and do make valuable contributions to the UK workforce.

"A cultural change is needed in workplaces across the UK. Simple proactive steps by employers to show they understand HIV and would be supportive of disclosure will have a dramatic effect on the working lives of people with HIV."