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posted by martyb on Thursday October 20 2016, @09:33AM   Printer-friendly
from the mandatory-opt-in dept.

It is illegal today to use DNA testing for employment, but as science advances its understanding of genes that correlate to certain desirable traits -- such as leadership and intelligence -- business may want this information.

People seeking leadership roles in business, or even those in search of funding for a start-up, may volunteer their DNA test results to demonstrate that they have the right aptitude, leadership capabilities and intelligence for the job.

This may sound farfetched, but it's possible based on the direction of the science, according to Gartner analysts David Furlonger and Stephen Smith, who presented their research at the firm's Symposium IT/xpo here. This research is called "maverick" in Gartner parlance, meaning it has a somewhat low probability and is still years out, but its potential is nonetheless worrisome to the authors.

Businesses could also weed out people with diabetes, heart defects, and any other congenital defects that can lead to absenteeism.


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  • (Score: 2) by PizzaRollPlinkett on Thursday October 20 2016, @02:55PM

    by PizzaRollPlinkett (4512) on Thursday October 20 2016, @02:55PM (#416696)

    Sounds like a solution in search of a sucker to buy it. A Gartner report is marketing collateral for whoever is pushing this pseudoscience.

    Besides, who needs it? Jobs either require professionals who have a track record so you know what you're getting, or are struggling to find anyone at all who will show up. Several places I go have elderly employees who are the only ones who show up and work, and when they kick the bucket .... the places will probably just go kaput. I almost can't help but laugh at the young white-shirt-wearing "managers" in some establishments who look busy, walking around, getting in the way, but never actually do anything.

    I can't imagine a lot of these establishments having a warm-blooded applicant come apply not hiring the person on the spot. The only test they'll do is if the person has a pulse. Are they really going to reject an applicant based on some pseudoscience? I'd like to see that happen. If they could get a few months out of someone before their heart attack, some places I've been would be thrilled.

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  • (Score: 2) by bob_super on Thursday October 20 2016, @04:40PM

    by bob_super (1357) on Thursday October 20 2016, @04:40PM (#416767)

    > Sounds like a solution in search of a sucker to buy it. A Gartner report is marketing collateral for whoever is pushing this pseudoscience.

    Gartner is like the Rating Agencies, just a marketing tool used to promote a product.