In addition to sex, race and a dozen other categories, employers must now comply with another equal opportunity law: GINA, short for Genetic Information Non-Discrimination Act of 2008. On May 21, 2008, President Bush signed GINA. All employers with at least 15 employees must comply with GINA beginning Nov. 21, 2009. This article will give a quick overview of GINA and also provide a checklist of action items for employers to take now. Further details can be found on the EEOC Web site, including a new mandatory poster (www.eeoc.gov).
At first blush, GINA has a “futuristic” and limited sense about it. After all, how many employers are out there gathering genetic information? But the law was passed due to quick-moving advances in the field of genetics, and the development of genomic medicine, which could lead to insurability problems and job discrimination against people based on the availability of their genetic information and family histories.
