Question

Employers may make medical inquiries or require medical examinations of newly hired or existing employees only if:

A. The employer believes the health or safety of the individual or others is at risk
B. The employer thinks the individual will not be able to be successful at the job
C. The employer thinks the individual will not get along with the other staff
D. The employer thinks that the worker may not stay long at the company

Answer 1

Employers are legally allowed to make medical inquiries or require medical examinations only if they believe the health or safety of the individual or others is at risk, as per the regulations enforced by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). This is option A in the question provided.

Step-by-step explanation:

Employers may make medical inquiries or require medical examinations of newly hired or existing employees under specific circumstances.

According to the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), these inquiries or examinations are permitted only when they are job-related and consistent with business necessity. This typically applies when an employer believes that:

• The health or safety of the individual or others is at risk (Option A).

The other options listed, such as an employer thinking the individual will not be successful at the job, will not get along with other staff, or may not stay long at the company, are not valid reasons for medical inquiries according to anti-discrimination laws.

The Civil Rights Act of 1964 and other federal laws protect against discrimination in hiring processes. The EEOC enforces these laws, preventing employment discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, or genetic information.

In an effort to reduce asymmetric information in the labor market, employers often set a trial or probationary period during the beginning of employment, when they may dismiss an employee for any or no reason. However, this does not entitle them to conduct unlawful medical inquiries.

It is important to note that, per the Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA), employees can file complaints for serious hazards or nonadherence to standards without fear of retribution - another protective measure for workers' rights.

With these regulations in place, the correct answer to the student's question is Option A, which is that employers may make medical inquiries or require medical examinations only if they believe the health or safety of the individual or others is at risk.