Privacy Issues in the Workplace

13. Adopting a Practical Approach ..............................................................................................................50 B. Pre-Offer Inquiries and Examinations — What You Can and Cannot Ask Job Applicants Before Making a Conditional Offer of Employment ............................................................................................52 1. What Is a Medical Examination? ...........................................................................................................53 2. What Is a Conditional Offer of Employment? .......................................................................................53 3. Case Study on Conditional Offer of Employment .................................................................................54 4. Acceptable Pre-Offer Inquiries ..............................................................................................................55 5. Examples of Improper Pre-Offer Inquiries.............................................................................................55 6. Physical Agility/Fitness Testing.............................................................................................................56 7. Drug and Alcohol Testing of Applicants ...............................................................................................57 8. Psychological Testing ............................................................................................................................57 C. How to Handle the Obviously Disabled Applicant ..............................................................................................57 D. Post-Offer Medical Examinations and Inquiries ..................................................................................................57 1. Requirements for Post-Offer Medical Examinations .............................................................................57 2. HIV Testing Is Impermissible ................................................................................................................58 E. Existing Employment Stage: Those Who are Already Employed ........................................................................58 F. Denial of Employment Based on Medical Examination Results ..........................................................................59 1. Employers May Reject Applicants Whose Job Performance Would Endanger the Applicant or Others ................................................................................................................................59 2. Case Study on FEHA “Safety-Of-Others” Test .....................................................................................60 3. Case Study on Pre-Employment Medical Examinations........................................................................60 G. Current Employees ...............................................................................................................................................61 1. Requests for Reasonable Accommodation.............................................................................................61 2. Requests for Medical Leave under The FMLA and CFRA....................................................................63 3. Certification of Entitlement to Pregnancy Leave ...................................................................................65 4. Workers’ Compensation.........................................................................................................................66 5. Drug Testing of Current Employees ......................................................................................................66 H. Fitness for Duty Examinations .............................................................................................................................67 1. When Is a Fitness for Duty Examination Allowed? ...............................................................................67 2. When Is a Fitness for Duty Examination Required? ..............................................................................68 3. Case Studies on Fitness for Duty Examinations.....................................................................................68 4. What Information Is an Employer Entitled to Receive Following a Fitness for Duty Examination?.................................................................................................................................69 5. What Information Can the Employer Give a Doctor? ............................................................................70 I. Can the Doctor Have an Employee’s Prior Medical Records? .............................................................................70 J. Handling and Maintenance of Employee Medical Information ...........................................................................70 1. Requirements Regarding Employee Medical File..................................................................................70 2. Confidentiality of Medical Information Act...........................................................................................71 3. Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act.............................................................................73 K. Disclosing Medical Information ...........................................................................................................................75 1. Employee Requests ................................................................................................................................75 2. Responding to Subpoenas ......................................................................................................................76 3. Case Studies Involving Disclosure of Medical Information ..................................................................78 S ECTION 4 Drug and Alcohol Testing and Information.................................................................................................................80 A. Employer-Regulated Drug and Alcohol Testing ..................................................................................................82 1. General Legal Standards ........................................................................................................................82 2. Types of Drug Testing for Existing Employees .....................................................................................86 3. Implementation of Drug and Alcohol Testing Programs and Duty to Bargain ......................................91 B. DOT-Regulated Drug and Alcohol Testing..........................................................................................................93 1. Records Check Requirement ..................................................................................................................93 2. The Information to Be Released.............................................................................................................93 3. When the Information Must Be Obtained ..............................................................................................93

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