That (law) suit looks good on you — ADA and wearables
The more technology advances, the more employers need to understand their obligations under anti-discrimination laws. Such is the case for wearables and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
Wearables are digital devices embedded with sensors and worn on the body to track movement, collect biometric data, and/or track someone’s location.
Examples of devices that employees might wear include:
- Smartwatches or rings that track their activities and monitor their physical or mental condition in the workplace;
- Environmental or proximity sensors that warn wearers of nearby hazards;
- Smart glasses and smart helmets that can measure electrical activity of the brain (electroencephalogram or “EEG” testing) or detect emotions;
- Exoskeletons and other aids that provide physical support and reduce fatigue;
- Global Positioning System devices that track location; and
- Various other gadgets.
Requiring employees to use wearable devices to obtain health-related information may risk compliance issues, such as:
- Conducting medical exams under the ADA.
- Asking disability-related questions under the ADA if employers require employees to disclose health information (such as information about prescription drug use or a disability) in connection with using wearables.
The ADA limits disability-related inquiries or medical examinations for all employees, not just those with disabilities. Employers may ask employees medical questions or require medical exams only if they have a reasonable belief, based on objective evidence, that a particular employee is unable to perform the job’s essential functions because of a medical condition or will pose a direct threat because of a medical condition.
If, for example, an employer fired an employee based on an elevated heart rate when the elevated heart rate results from a heart condition (disability), the employer would risk an ADA violation.
Employers may ask disability-related questions or require medical exams only in a few limited circumstances, such as:
- When required by a federal, safety-related law or regulation;
- For certain employees in positions affecting public safety (e.g., police officers or firefighters); and,
- If the questions or exams are voluntary and part of an employee health program, as long as the program is reasonably designed to promote health and wellness or prevent disease.
Key to remember: Employers that use wearables to ask disability-related questions or serve as medical exams outside certain exceptions risk violating the ADA.