This research investigates the importance of legal concerns over lawsuits, fear of AIDS in the workplace, and gender as factors influencing a manager's decision to disclose AIDS health information to coworkers. Data was obtained from questionnaires administered to managers employed in service, manufacturing, and government organizations. Findings indicate that both fear of AIDS in the workplace and concern over lawsuits exhibited a significant relationship with the likelihood of sharing AIDS health information and gender was found to moderate the relationship between likelihood of sharing AIDS health information, and fear of AIDS in the workplace. Male managers exhibited a higher level of fear of AIDS than female managers and did female managers, were found to be somewhat less likely than male managers to share AIDS health information with cpworkers. Study findings, suggestions for future research, and implications are discussed.Communication of information in the workplace is vital to a successful business. But not all information available to managers should be shared with others. It may not be wise, or lawful, to disseminate some types of information without authorization. Employee medical records or knowledge of an employee's health status are particularly sensitive topics that should not be communicated without privilege to do so. Perhaps the most sensitive piece of medical information about an employee may be knowledge that the employee has AIDS or has tested positive for AIDS antibodies. Deciding whether, when, 'Correspondence concerning this article should be addressed to Jusanne M. Vest, Department of Management and MIS, The University of Southern Mississippi, Southern Station, Box 5077, Hattiesburg, MS 39406-5077. *The authors would like to acknowledge Fabius P. O'Brien, Ph.D., deceased, formerly an associate professor, Department of Management, University of South Alabama, Mobile, Alabama, for his detailed contribution to this project.
