RE: MED-PRIVACY digest 137

[Mark Sonneborn <MSONNEBO@lans.mha.org>]

I don't know much about the Tower situation, but, speaking in generalities . 
. . If an employee is drunk on the job to the point where performance is 
adversely affected, then this would normally go into a personnel file, 
rather than a medical file.  Employers exploring job candidates' credentials 
routinely call former employers as references--although I have no knowledge 
of the law in this case, personnel records seem like fair game if the 
candidate gives permission to speak to the former employer.  For jobs like 
janitor or toll taker, an employer can afford to be a little more 
lenient--Secetary of Defense deserves a lot more scrutiny.

Mark Sonneborn