Genes & Jobs

Do you have the right genes for the job? Employers could use genetic testing to find out. Currently more than 20 states ban the use of genetic screening for making employment-related decisions, but there are a small number of companies using genetic testing.

Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway was forced to put the brakes on its policy that put workers' genetic code to the test. A series of worker compensation claims related to carpal tunnel syndrome prompted the company to turn to genetic testing. (Some research suggests certain people may be genetically inclined to suffer from the syndrome.) The federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission filed suit against Burlington Northern, claiming the testing violated the Americans with Disabilities Act. The suit was the first one ever filed by the EEOC over genetic testing in the workplace.