Can an employer ask for medical information from an employee?

In Kansas, employers are not permitted to ask for medical information from an employee, unless it is needed to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). The ADA is a federal law that prohibits employers from discriminating against people with disabilities. Employers can ask questions about an employee’s ability to perform job-related tasks, but they cannot ask about the existence, nature, or severity of a disability. Furthermore, employers in Kansas cannot ask employees to take medical examinations or release their medical records, unless the information is relevant to their job. For example, an employer can ask an employee to take a medical exam if the job requires the employee to lift heavy equipment. The employer can also ask for a medical opinion from the employee’s doctor if they are concerned that a medical condition may affect an employee’s ability to perform their job duties. In Kansas, employers also cannot ask an employee to provide genetic information such as family medical histories or ancestry. Furthermore, employers are not allowed to ask employees to provide detailed medical information regarding their health, including past illnesses, treatments, or any other information that doesn’t relate to their ability to perform their job. All in all, while employers in Kansas cannot ask an employee for medical information, they are allowed to request some medical information that is relevant to their job.

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