Since March of this year, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) has released guidance on a near-monthly basis addressing various FAQs concerning COVID-19 issues. The guidance has focused on disability-related inquiries, confidentiality, hiring, and reasonable accommodations under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), as well as issues under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act … Continue Reading
We know that data analytics is being used to influence a wide range of things such as the pair of shoes one might want to buy or what news is “trending” on Facebook. Similar tools are being applied to employer-sponsored group health plans. According to a recent HealthcareITnews article, vendors such as Advanced Plan for … Continue Reading
If you are a public sector employer, you may be particularly interested in an article written by my fellow shareholder and practice group member, Marlo Johnson Roebuck. She writes about a recent case, Graziosi v. City of Greenville, involving a police department’s decision to terminate a police officer for statements she made on Facebook. As … Continue Reading
As one nursing facility in New York has learned, asking employees or applicants about their family medical history can violate the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act (“GINA”) and draw the ire of the U.S Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). Founders Pavilion, Inc., a former Corning, N.Y. nursing and rehabilitation center, will pay $370,000 to settle discrimination … Continue Reading
Since it was enacted in 2008, plaintiffs suing under the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act ("GINA"), 42 U.S.C. Section 2000ff et seq., have not had much success. Most cases have been dismissed at an early stage. As reported on our Disability, Leave and Health Management Blog, however, this summer the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission ("EEOC") burst on the scene with … Continue Reading
Click on the link in this post for high-level compliance roadmap concerning the Omnibus Privacy Rule under HIPAA and HITECH for covered plans, providers and business associates.… Continue Reading
Health care practices and businesses generally need to be more careful when responding to requests for medical and other sensitive personal information.… Continue Reading
As we continue to examine the final HIPAA privacy and security regulations, as amended by the HITECH Act and the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act, we pulled together a summary of some of the key points. We fully expect additional sub-regulatory guidance to be provided by OCR, such as frequently asked questions and sample business associate agreement … Continue Reading
Recruiters are increasingly turning to social media to screen and recruit candidates. Jobvite’s 2012 Social Recruiting Survey found that 92% of respondents plan to use social media for recruiting. Often, recruiters are viewing and considering information that should not be utilized in the hiring process. LinkedIn is replete with information that should not be considered when … Continue Reading
Have you ever reviewed the Facebook or LinkedIn profile or other social media activity of an employee or applicant? How about requiring employees or applicants to provide access to social media activity as a condition of employment.… Continue Reading
In connection with its coverage of national signing day, ESPN.com recently highlighted that social media is increasingly being utilized by coaches to contact, recruit and gather information about players. For players, it’s a way to get recruited, control the message and interact with fans and other recruits at unprecedented levels. And, like in the workplace, misuse … Continue Reading
The ECRI Institute recently published an excellent summary of key issues for hospitals concerning social media (registration required), a valuable read for any hospital administrator, risk manager or human resources director. ECRI reports that approximately 4,000 U.S. hospitals own social media sites and that number is sure to grow significantly. One of the reasons for this growth will likely be due in significant … Continue Reading
The Minnesota Supreme Court issued a decision on November 16, 2011 holding that the state’s Genetic Privacy Act, Minn. Stat. Section 13.386 (2010) restricts the collection and use of blood samples taken from newborns pursuant to the state’s Newborn Screening Statutes, Minn. Stat. Section 144.125-128. The litigation, captioned Bearder et al v. State of Minnesota, … Continue Reading
Companies frequently receive requests for information about current and former employees. These requests often come in the form of an attorney's demand letter or a subpoena and apply to the individual's medical records. Failing to carefully think through whether and how to respond can be a costly trap for the unwary.… Continue Reading
The long awaited final Title II regulations under the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act (GINA) will be issued tomorrow, November 9, 2010. The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission published proposed regulations under Title II of GINA on March 2, 2009. A period of public comment followed. The final regulations will have an impact on a number of employment practices, including wellness programs. We will be … Continue Reading
ABC News has reported that a Fairfield, Connecticut woman, Pamela Fink, yesterday filed claims with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and the Connecticut Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities that her employer violated GINA when it terminated her employment on March 25, 2010. The federal Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act (GINA) (pdf), which went into effect … Continue Reading
The Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act (GINA) [pdf], signed into law in May 2008, prohibits discrimination by health insurers and employers based on individuals’ genetic information. Genetic information includes the results of genetic tests to determine whether someone is at increased risk of acquiring a condition (such as some forms of breast cancer) in the future, … Continue Reading
