Judge denies U.S. request to block Honeywell wellness program

A U.S. district judge in Minneapolis is allowing Honeywell to begin penalizing workers who refuse to submit to biometric or medical tests. A federal agency had asked the judge to block the program.

The case will continue to move forward in the court.

The tests, required by Honeywell in a recent policy change, will measure blood pressure, cholesterol and glucose, as well as check for signs that an employee has been smoking. Employees who decline to take the tests could be fined up to $4,000 in surcharges and increased health costs. The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) had sued Honeywell over the policy last week. Attorneys for the agency argue that the testing program violates the Americans with Disabilities Act and the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act by penalizing employees who decline to take part.

U.S. District Judge Ann Montgomery denied the agency's request for a temporary restraining order at a hearing Monday.

Read the full article via MPRNews here.