The Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act (GINA), which was passed last year, goes into effect this weekend with regard to its ban on employment discrimination. GINA prohibits employers from requesting genetic testing or considering someone’s genetic background in hiring, firing or promotions. The EEOC’s new website is a good source of information on the Act.
While Congress did well in enacting GINA, its effort to extend unemployment benefits was apparently poorly executed. Although Congress lengthened the period for extended benefits, it failed to renew the extended benefit program beyond the end of the year. Hopefully Congress will act quickly, because North Carolina’s unemployment rate is now 11%, but the Senate has been anything but speedy as of late.
Author Bio
Valerie Johnson
Founder
Valerie Johnson is a North Carolina personal injury and workers’ compensation attorney dedicated to helping injured and working people across the state. A board-certified specialist since 2000, she is the Immediate Past President of the North Carolina Advocates for Justice and author of North Carolina Workers’ Compensation Law: A Practical Guide to Success at Every Stage of a Claim.
