House Republicans would let employers demand workers’ genetic test results

(Yahoo.com)-A little-noticed bill moving through Congress would allow companies to require employees to undergo genetic testing or risk paying a penalty of thousands of dollars, and would let employers see that genetic and other health information.

Giving employers such power is now prohibited by legislation including the 2008 genetic privacy and nondiscrimination law known as GINA. The new bill gets around that landmark law by stating explicitly that GINA and other protections do not apply when genetic tests are part of a “workplace wellness” program

www.yahoo.com...

I cant see this being a good idea, but yet, still see a line of morons lining up to go along with it.

I'd like to think this would be considered an invasion of privacy, but then again, if you don't do this, would you be allowed to have a job?

originally posted by: Black_Fox

I cant see this being a good idea, but yet, still see a line of morons lining up to go along with it.

I'd like to think this would be considered an invasion of privacy, but then again, if you don't do this, would you be allowed to have a job?

I'm pretty liberal when it comes to science and progression in that area.

But this? NO!!!!!!

What dip# came up with this god awful idea?

This will be an interesting one to watch.

The initial GINA bill was passed with a 414-1 vote. The speculation is that this bill (the one referenced in the OP) will be rolled into the Republicans' repeal of the ACA and the implementation of their version of the ACA. Definitely worth keeping an eye on it.

OOOOOoooo I wonder if I'll get to pick my own barcode!?

a reply to: Black_Fox

Repubs are idiots. Dems are certainly right (correct) on this bill.

Eventually we will all be wiped out by killer military robots so it really doesn't matter what they do. Our genetics will never be good enough to serve them.

I hope this is the poison pill that dooms the current bill to 'repeal/replace' Obamacare.

Make America Genetically Superior Again!!!


has a nice ring to it.

a reply to: Black_Fox

For some jobs I could see how a genetic test could be beneficial, like Astronaut or Submariner. But then I fully imagine the health checks are already pretty thorough.

It's intrusive, I always tick the "don't wish to share" or "N/A" box when asked on a form about religion since it's a private matter.

Imagine applying for a bar job and being told no because you have a genetic predisposition to alcoholism. For instance diabetes might run in the family but that doesn't mean you're 100% guaranteed to develop diabetes.

So what's next... Employers declaring that they suspect you're depressed and forcing you to systematically treating it or lose your job? Madness, let's focus on productivity in a safe and secure workplace. Personal issues should remain so unless they impact the workplace, even then the individual has rights.

It's the dawn of the Neanderthal workforce !!

For some reason I see a lot of hippa violations coming from people talking about others people's health.

originally posted by: crazyewok
What dip# came up with this god awful idea?

It is Vriginia Foxx, R-NC. All of your DNA is Belong to Us

a reply to: Black_Fox

What a dystopic idea. Truly horrifying.

Are we human f***** beings or livestock? It's reminiscent of the slave markets with healthy specimens getting bought and the rest going for job lots at big discounts. There's a dog show on TV right now and it's all about the pedigrees and the breeds. Same sort of thing?

If so, we'd be looking at the division of labour markets and families being segregated whilst others had more opportunities. Do we need more tiers in our societies? Aren't there too many already?

Will the genetic testing extend to the political classes? I would hope so and they should start on their IQs. Who in their right mind would vote this BS in?

Gattaca here we come.

First the ACA replacement that essentially makes it impossible for poor people to get insurance and now this bill. Are we sure that the GOP aren't trying to introduce a eugenics program?

a reply to: Xcalibur254

It's more like a caste system. There's no significant financial or political incentive to breed out people with genetic conditions when they represent a labour force.

Have you seen this Fallon video? He's a geneticist with all the gene markers of psychopathy and his family are related to Lizzie Borden. His daughter (iirc) has a gene marker seen in murderers.



Now, I'm not suggesting this Bill would get all granular and we'd all be 'scanned' for psychopathy or 'murder markers.' It just seems like an issue and a possibility because these things are inevitably prone to mission creep. It's such a shame that politicians are generally craven idiots and not confined by ethics committees.

ETA - 'neuroscientist' rather than geneticist. Error's all mine.

Wow our children are going to live in a really messed up world. They are slowly stripping us of our personal rights. This is so intrusive I hope it doesn't pass.

Can't wait for the day all these scumbags are exposed for the turds they really are.

It's coming and many are scared.

Look at twitter, now censoring " porn Images " among other things... They don't just censor images, they censor whole accounts.

How much more will the public take?

The bill, HR 1313, was approved by a House committee on Wednesday, with all 22 Republicans supporting it and all 17 Democrats opposed.

Stat News

This bill is reprehensible. Here is the list of committee members, so you can find who voted for this crap:
House Committee Education and the Workforce

If any of these asshats represent you, click their name, get their number and email and let them know you aren't pleased.
Thanks.