Can you imagine a time when employees might willingly share their genetic information with employers in an effort to protect their jobs? According to lawyer Richard Tuschman, shareholder in Akerman Setnerfitt’s labor and employment practice group, this scenario is a real possibility.
DNA testing is a fast-growing industry. 23andMe, a genetic testing company, announced last fall that it’s seeking approval from the Food and Drug Administration for a direct-to-consumer product that allows consumers – your employees – to understand their own genetic make-up. While there are benefits to this technology – allowing scientists to better identify the causes of disease, for example – there can also be repercussions in the workplace.
