DNA testing new hires

Dear Sirs,
Recently I went to an Interview . They were interviewing many, and processing those they have already hired. I was told this a 4 part process. I was aware they would do a back ground check and drug test prior to hiring. But I witnessed a young man be processed, and management asked him for a DNA sample. No Doctor or nurse present, only management. They had him brush his gum line with this brush and hold it in his mouth for a few minutes, then they handed him the tube to place his sample inside, brush and all. First off all is this legal? I surely hope they don't send someone in with you to give a urine sample, shouldn't all of this be done by a health care provider?
Thank you.

Laws vary by state and country, so we would need to know where this occurred.

Hi Aaron,
It is for Jackson, Michigan. USA.
Thanks,
dodge1

What was this "DNA test" for?

This is a 4 part hire in series. For a major Home Improvement Store.
1. Application
2. Interview
3. Back ground check, drug test
4. Hired... but in ordered to be processed they were doing DNA test on the new hires, asking if they ever submitted a DNA sample before, they replied no, the manager told them how to do it, and then upon these leaving the manager said it would take 2-3 days to get the results back. These kids did not ask why, they just did it. I was observed, an had my Interview. I am not handing just anyone my DNA. I recently went for U.S. Postal job, they did a back ground check, and drug screen, but never asked for my DNA. If the government doesn't want it, why in the world would a Home Improvement Store need it?

I have heard of employers doing cheek swab tests for smoking. I have no idea what this employer would be doing the test for, and apparently you don't either, making it awfully hard to guess as to what was going on.

I understand. But is it legal for an potential employer to request a DNA sample period as part of a hiring process? Smoking or no smoking, no one needs to kown anyone else's DNA strand, except for a criminal investigation. Doesn't seem like we have any rights any more. No privacy. Honestly, and without a physician present. Where are our rights? And to think that my son is Iraq fighting for this! In the name of freedom?

I don't know the nature of the job, the nature of the test, why they want the test.... I'm not in a position to guess.

Quote:

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Quoting dodge1

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I understand. But is it legal for an potential employer to request a DNA sample period as part of a hiring process? Smoking or no smoking, no one needs to kown anyone else's DNA strand, except for a criminal investigation. Doesn't seem like we have any rights any more. No privacy. Honestly, and without a physician present. Where are our rights? And to think that my son is Iraq fighting for this! In the name of freedom?

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You could always work somewhere else.

(By the way, I share your hatred of this kind of behavior by a potential employer.)

I can't guess why the employer is asking for this unless it is with reference to health insurance.

It is illegal in approximately 30 states to discriminate on the basis of genetic testing information (which is essentailly what this comes down to) and Michigan IS one of them.