Perceived Effects of HIV/Aids on Performance in the Tea Factories of Bomet County-Kenya
Stephen N.M Nzuve, Ngeny Emily Chelangat

Abstract
The physical and mental wellbeing of workers is of paramount importance and is directly related to productivity in any organization thus an meaningful investment in human capital should insist on improving the health of workers in any work place (Loekppke et al, 2009).HIV/AIDS is an immunodeficiency virus that has had great negative impact on work populations both in the developing and developed world (Grassly et al, 2003). Waggoner, et al (1999), defined organizational performance as the ability of a firm to fulfill and meet its mission through sound management, strong governance and persistent rededication to achieving results. Companies have to be profit driven, customer focused, adaptable, entrepreneurial and sustainable in order to achieve their goals and mission. Bomet County is located in the beautiful sloping Western part of Kenya, in an administrative region within the Great Rift Valley. It covers an area of 1592.4 square kilometers with a mean monthly temperature of 18 degrees Celsius and annual rainfall ranges between 1,100 and 1,500 Millimeters, weather conducive to tea growing (Ministry of Agriculture, 2013).The objective of the study was to establish the perceived effects of HIV/AIDS on performance in the tea factories of Bomet County. Bomet County has five tea factories (Ministry of Agriculture, 2013). The study sampled 51 management level personnel in the five tea factories, 51 being 50% of the target population identified through stratified random sampling. Structured questionnaires were used to collect data. The study found out that the perceived effects of HIV/AIDS in the tea factories of Bomet County were among others, a high rate of abseentism and lowered output. HIV/AIDS did not however have a large impact on customer care or quality of product. The study recommended development and full implementation of HIV/AIDS policy, enhancement of social support and programs for management of staff within the factories living with HIV/AIDS and that the same should be extended to communities living in the County as part of corporate social responsibility of the tea factories.

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