Compass Group USA Illegally Requests Family Medical Histories from Illinois Applicants, Class Action Lawsuit Claims

New to ClassAction.org? Read our Newswire Disclaimer

Compass Group USA, Inc. faces a proposed class action lawsuit that claims the food services company illegally requires prospective employees in Illinois to provide their family medical histories as a standard part of its hiring process.

Get the latest open class action lawsuits sent to your inbox. Sign up for ClassAction.org’s free weekly newsletter.

The 13-page lawsuit was filed over Compass Group’s alleged violations of the Illinois Genetic Information Privacy Act (GIPA), a state law that makes it illegal for a company to directly or indirectly request genetic information from an individual as a condition of employment or pre-employment application. Enacted in 1998, the GIPA regulates employers’ use of genetic data as a means to protect candidates from discrimination based on such information, the complaint says.

“Genetic information, including familial health history, is a uniquely private and sensitive form of personal information,” the case says. “This genetic information reveals a trove of intimate information about that person’s health, family, and innate characteristics.”

According to the suit, Compass Group has run afoul of the GIPA on a “massive scale” by systematically requiring job applicants to undergo a physical examination and answer questions about their family medical histories.

The lawsuit was brought by a woman who says she applied for a job at a Compass Group location in La Grange, Illinois, around August 2021. Per the complaint, the plaintiff was asked to provide information about whether her family members had a history of diabetes, heart disease, kidney disease and other medical conditions in order to apply for employment with Compass Group.

The filing further alleges the defendant failed to inform the plaintiff of her right not to disclose such information.

The lawsuit looks to represent anyone in Illinois from whom Compass Group or an agent acting on its behalf solicited, requested, and/or required, during the applicable statute of limitations period, family medical history or other genetic information as a condition of applying for employment.

Are you owed unclaimed settlement money? Check out our class action rebates page full of open class action settlements.