Aiding Employment Violations on Medical Privacy

By: Ivonne Jade Agustin
Submitted: 2009-06-24 12:49:54

The recent increase in employment cases and disputes has raised awareness on employees’ rights under the law.

These issues often involve employee’s wage and working hours, a violation which has become rampant throughout the nation. Some employers are trying to get around laws which protect their workers just so they can cut expenses.

Health Care Privacy

Aside from the usual claims of discrimination, retaliation, harassment, and others, more and more are filing complaints regarding their health care privacy.

-    Employees are Required to Undergo Treatment
There are cases where employees didn’t have to meddle with their employee’s medical condition as their job and performance has not been affected.

However, there are cases when workers have been required to submit to tests and exams that would further prove their claims of being well despite the approval of their physicians.

-    Employees are Confronted With Inconvenience
There are some whose applied leaves are delayed or their job position is threatened or is taken away because they took leave that disqualified under the law.

Employers must not try to postpone the needed leave of workers especially if it is a life and death situation.

-    Employees are Retaliated Against
Cases wherein employees are terminated, transferred, or demoted for their complaints against their employers regarding medical leaves and other disputes are common.

These employers can be sued on charges of wrongful termination or retaliation regarding medical leaves and other related issues.

-    Employees Should Have Privacy with their Medical Records
Every medical record should be regarded as confidential and no one should have access to it unless it is very crucial and the courts said so.
Workers have the right to keep some issues to themselves and they have the liberty not to disclose it to his employer especially if it has nothing to do with his job performance.

Most people can have access to health care and insurance through their jobs. There are employers who offer this health insurance as a part of benefits of their workers.

However, the employer has no right to invade the privacy even of his employee when it comes to his medical records.

These records contain issues and crucial information regarding their every medical history and so their employers or co-worker has no right to access them at any time without the person’s knowledge and approval.

Medical leaves have been the root of a lot of employment disputes. Several cases would include employers trying to manipulate their employee’s right to these leaves or would present inconvenience just so the worker cannot take the leave that he is entitled to.

Acquiring Legal Assistance

For those who have been involved in any situation wherein they felt that their medical health care privacy has been invaded, it is appropriate that they file charges against the offending party with the help of an expert lawyer.

Claimants must make sure that their lawyer has handled cases similar to theirs and has been successful with their cases in the past. This would ensure them that their case will be handled effectively and wisely.

Also, these lawyers must be sharp enough to construct strategies and can think of tactics where his client would certainly benefit from.

Our skilled Los Angeles lawyers specialize in employment litigation. Visit our website and call us toll free for immediate legal assistance.