New GINA Act requires immediate action for employers according to new white paper

December 16, 2009 Enacted in late November, The Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act (GINA) protects applicants and employees from discrimination based on genetic information. Additionally it requires significant changes to the handling of genetic data by covered employers according to a white paper recently released by HRN Management Group (www.hrnonline.com).

Organizations covered by the act (private, state and local government employers with 15 or more employees, employment agencies, labor unions, and joint labor management training programs), who possess genetic information about applicants or employees must treat the information the same way they treat medical information. Which means confidentiality must be maintained as well as separation of the genetic information from other personal information.

Several key company policies, procedures, and documents might also be affected requiring employers to review and revise these documents. Additionally a new GINA supplement poster has been released in English, Spanish, Arabic and Chinese.

The White Paper "It's Time for GINA and a New Poster" can be read in its entirety here: http://www.hrnonline.com/tryit/WhitePaper-GINAandNewPoster.pdf

About HRN Management Group
Founded in 1989, HRN develops practical and effective human resources staff management products designed to simplify and improve employee development, compensation administration, and regulatory compliance. HRN recently formed a consulting division and now provides comprehensive HR services ranging from executive search and recruitment to organizational development, management training, pre-employment background verification, and affirmative action plan preparation.