Congresswoman Urges EEOC to Address Wellness Programs and Genetic Information

Congresswoman Louise Slaughter (D-NY), who sponsored the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act (GINA), recently wrote to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) expressing concern over reports of wellness programs coercing private health information from participants, noting that such a practice may violate several federal nondiscrimination laws, including GINA.

Slaughter noted that a specific wellness program of a major university reportedly charged a $100 noncompliance fee per month for employees who refused to participate in an online health assessment that requested personal health information. She requested that the EEOC promptly draft sub-regulatory guidance “stopping this type of abuse and ensuring strong nondiscrimination protections for employees in wellness programs.” “Any employer wellness plan that coerces employees to provide genetic information through monetary incentives would violate the core intent of GINA and other civil rights laws’ protections,” Slaughter wrote.

ERIC members and trial members can read more here.

Congresswoman Louise Slaughter's letter is available here.

ERIC testimony before the EEOC on wellness plans is available here.