In today’s world, we can find out more than ever about our genetic information as well as medical issues that we might face in the future. This can have a big impact on how we view ourselves, and this medical information can go a long way toward predicting future health issues.
For this reason, medical and genetic information can be misused by employers. Naturally, employers would like to minimize the amount of time that their employers were on sick leave. However, when employers have information on their employee’s medical history, decisions can be taken that may negatively affect the employee in question. This is why the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act (GINA) was passed in 2008.
What does GINA mean for employees?
GINA is an act that was passed by Congress in order to protect employees from discrimination and wrongful termination. It means that it is unlawful for employers to make any type of employment decision based on the medical history or genetic information of an employee.
If you believe that you were fired or retaliated against because of some information that your employer has on your medical history, it is important that you treat this very seriously. For example, if your employer knows that you recently visited the doctor because of an increased risk of heart disease, they can never legally fire you out of concern about your future work performance.
It is important that you take action in the state of California if you believe that your medical information has been used as an illegitimate reason for your firing.