Legal Question in Employment Law in Illinois
Prescription medications at work
My employer recently ammended the company handbook requiring employees to disclose what prescription medications they are taking. I have a problem with this because the human resources director young in age has a habit of going to the tavern and having a few to many drinks and running on at the mouth. I have a personal experience of him doing this. I am currently on several medications including an anti-depressant and don't want it to become public knowledge. My question is do I have to disclose this information and how is my privacy protected if I do? Should there be a confidentiality form that I should be looking for from them? Thank you for your time.
1 Answer from Attorneys
Re: Prescription medications at work
Hello. In my opinion there certainly should be a confidentiality form and the handbook should outline why the employer finds it necessary to know just what kinds of prescription medication employees are taking. Of course the HIIPA requirements apply when it comes to releasing medical records and your situation is not an exception. Your employer had better beware. It could be facing a potentially damaging lawsuit. Will be happy to discuss this further and in more detail.