On Oct. 30, 2015, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) issued a proposed rule to amend the regulations implementing Title II of the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act (GINA) as they relate to employer wellness programs that are part of group health plans.

GINA protects individuals from employment discrimination based on their genetic information. In general, covered employers (those with15 or more employees) are prohibited from using genetic information for employment decisions and are restricted in their ability to disclose or request genetic information.

Since information about the current or past health status of an employee’s spouse or other family member is considered genetic information about the employee, the EEOC’s current GINA regulations could be read as prohibiting employers from offering incentives under a wellness program in return for a spouse providing his or her current or past health information. The proposed rule explains how employers may lawfully offer incentives for this information under GINA.

The proposed rule would allow an employer to offer limited incentives for an employee’s spouse to provide current or past health status information as part of a wellness program, in situations where the spouse participates in the employer’s health plan. Under the proposed rule, an employer may offer, as part of its health plan, a limited incentive (in the form of a reward or penalty) to an employee whose spouse is covered under the employee’s health plan, receives health or genetic services offered by the employer (including as part of a wellness program), and provides information about his or her current or past health status.

Information about current or past health status is usually provided as part of a health risk assessment (HRA), which may include a questionnaire or medical examination. However, no inducement may be offered in return for the spouse providing his or her own genetic information, including results of his or her genetic tests. Read more

The World Health Organization (WHO) recently announced that eating bacon, sausages, hot dogs and other processed meats may increase your risk of colorectal cancer.

While the news that processed meats aren’t good for you isn’t exactly groundbreaking, the fact that the WHO classified processed meats as “carcinogenic to humans” is news, as this puts processed meats in the same category as common carcinogens like tobacco. The study also says that red meat itself is “probably carcinogenic.”

This includes chicken and turkey sausage, too. The WHO says that processed meats derived from sources like poultry and other meats (veal, lamb, horse, etc.) are also carcinogenic.

However, this doesn’t mean that bacon is as dangerous as smoking. According to the American Institute for Cancer Research, people who eat meat are two times more likely to develop cancer than those who don’t. Smokers, on the other hand, are 20 times more likely to get cancer than nonsmokers.

Furthermore, this news doesn’t mean you have to stop eating the foods you love. Red meat has known health benefits, such as providing your body with iron, zinc and vitamin B. However, moderation is key. The World Cancer Research Fund recommends eating no more than 18 ounces of red meat a week, or about three regular-sized burgers, and very little, if any, processed meats. Read More

On Nov. 2, 2015, President Obama signed the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2015 into law, which included a provision repealing the ACA requirement that large companies automatically enroll their employees in group health plans.

Under the ACA, certain large employers that offer health coverage would have been required to automatically enroll new employees (and re-enroll current employees) in one of the employer’s health plans, subject to any permissible waiting period.

The ACA further required that adequate notice be given to employees as well as the opportunity for an employee to opt out of any coverage in which he or she was automatically enrolled.  Read More

The key to preventing work-related neck and back injuries is to evaluate your workstation and make sure it is ergonomically correct and promotes good posture. The discomfort and pain from slouching at a desk all day is very common, with many office workers suffering pain at least once a week. If you are working at an ergonomically incorrect workstation or practice poor posture, you can suffer from neck, shoulder, wrist and elbow discomfort.

Good Posture Tips

Avoid unnecessary discomfort at work by focusing on your posture and making your work station ergonomically appropriate.

Typically, aches and pains from office work are caused by physical stress due to prolonged and awkward positions, repetitive motions and overuse. When applied to your workstation, these helpful tips will help promote good posture and correct ergonomics:

• Chair position – Adjust the height of your chair so that your feet rest comfortably on the floor, with your knees about level with your hips, making sure your seat is not pressing against the back of your knees. Read More