What rights do employees have to be free from discrimination based on genetic information?

In Hawaii, employees have the right to be free from discrimination based on their genetic information. According to Hawaii Revised Statutes, employers may not discriminate against employees based on their genetic information, such as genetic makeup or history of health conditions. This means employers may not use genetic information when making decisions about hiring, firing, promoting, or demoting a person. Additionally, genetic information may not be used to determine who receives certain benefits or who is subjected to different terms or conditions of employment. In addition to the prohibitions against discrimination, employers are also required to keep genetic information confidential. Employers must protect the privacy of any genetic information collected from employees. This includes maintaining the security of the information, as well as being sure the information is not shared with anyone other than those who have a legitimate need to know. Finally, employers are prohibited from requiring or requesting that employees disclose their genetic information. This includes any kind of medical testing or asking employees to provide information about their family or health history. Employees have a right to keep their genetic information private and employers must respect and protect that right.

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