Feds sue Danville company for allegedly collecting genetic data on employees
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- EEOC sued Dana Sealing Manufacturing LLC for requesting applicants' family medical.
- The complaint alleges Dana asked about relatives' conditions from Jan 2022 to Oct 2024.
- The EEOC says requesting such genetic information violates GINA.
A federal agency has sued a Danville automotive parts company for allegedly asking potential employees about their family’s medical history.
The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunities Commission, which oversees employment discrimination, filed a civil lawsuit against Dana Sealing Manufacturing LLC in federal court in Lexington this week. Dana is a global drive-chain automobile supplier.
The lawsuit alleges between January 2022 and October 2024, Dana Sealing requested genetic information from applicants as part of its employment screening process. That process required applicants to state whether their mothers, fathers, brothers, sisters and grandparents had ever had certain medical conditions such as cancer, tuberculosis, diabetes, epilepsy, asthma or mental illness, according to a release from the EEOC.
The Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act (GINA) makes it illegal for an employer to request, require or purchase genetic information with respect to an employee or applicant, according to the EEOC.
Officials with Dana Sealing did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Federal EEOC officials said the agency tried to reach a settlement with the company but were unsuccessful, and ultimately filed the lawsuit.
“The Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act prevents employers from requesting family medical history information from employees and applicants, except in narrow circumstances, none of which applied here,” said Kenneth L. Bird, regional attorney for the EEOC’s Indianapolis District. “The EEOC will continue to enforce GINA and other federal anti-discrimination laws.”
