Media Coverage

Twenty-three New Jersey companies have been recognized as a “Best Place to Work for LGBTQ Equality” by the Human Rights Campaign Foundation, the educational arm of the country’s largest lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender civil rights organization.[CR-LF][CR-LF]According to the 2020 Corporate Equality Index, more than 680 companies were assessed and designated with the honor for their efforts in satisfying four criteria ⁠— non-discrimination policies, employment benefits, corporate social responsibility and responsible citizenship ⁠—earning them a score of 100%. Quest is included in this list.

Quest Diagnostics today announced that it has been selected as one of FORTUNE's World's Most Admired Companies in 2020 for the sixth consecutive year.

From makeup and oils to capsules for stress relief, cannabis-based goods are flowing into the marketplace. But while they may not get you high, they can still cause you problems at work. Cannabidiol or CBD has been showing up in a widening array of goods. That's because federal legislation in 2018 deemed that hemp - one of its sources - was not an illegal controlled substance.

Employers must provide a safe work environment, and they want to ensure their employees are productive, but is maintaining a drug-testing program in furtherance of these goals worth the hassle? The answer may depend on the workplace.[CR-LF][CR-LF]"You have to consider the needs of the business, in addition to any applicable state laws," said Anne-Marie Welch, an attorney with Clark Hill in Birmingham, Mich. Some employers are federal contractors or hire drivers and have to follow specific drug-free workplace laws. Other employers are struggling to find qualified employees or want to maintain a certain culture and think that drug testing—particularly for marijuana—will hinder their ability to attract and retain talent.

LabCorp and Quest went into 2019 predicting some upsides to the Protecting Access to Medicare Act​ (PAMA), which is driving down how much Medicare pays for tests. The clinical laboratory leaders objected to the price cuts but felt they were better equipped to cope with them than smaller rivals, creating opportunities to consolidate the market.[CR-LF][CR-LF]However, the anticipated surge in acquisitions of local and hospital laboratories never materialized. Adam Schechter, who took over as CEO of LabCorp in November, discussed some reasons for lack of M&A activity during a presentation at the J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference Tuesday.

Now that recreational pot is legal in Illinois, marijuana enthusiasts may feel like it’s finally time to emerge from hiding.[CR-LF][CR-LF]But people with jobs — or looking for them — might want to stay in the shadows for now as companies figure out how to handle employees who partake.

Medical companies that develop tests to diagnose neurological disorders, heart disease risk and fetal abnormalities have been in legal limbo since a 2012 Supreme Court ruling that limited the patenting of such tests, finding they occurred in nature and were not invented.[CR-LF][CR-LF]The high court may signal as soon as Friday whether it will revisit the subject as such tests become critical to the burgeoning field of personalized medicine, in which doctors determine whether a patient is genetically susceptible to a particular disease or would respond to certain treatments.

Quest Diagnostics Incorporated announced that it will report fourth quarter and full year 2019 results on Thursday, January 30, 2020, before the market opens. It will hold its quarterly conference call to discuss the results beginning at 8:30 a.m. Eastern Time on that day

PreemploymentDirectory.com, the background screening news and information portal for Human Resources professionals and Hiring Managers, has published an informative new guide on 'How to Select a Drug & Alcohol Screening Provider' to help employers select the right drug screening provider to meet their hiring needs at a time when drug use is on the increase.[CR-LF][CR-LF]The 'How to Select a Drug & Alcohol Screening Provider' guide was written specifically to help employers to select a drug testing provider who can meet their company's needs and to guide them in defining a successful program. Nina French, Managing Partner, Current Consulting Group, captures the intent of the Guide very well when she states, "Building a house relies on a good architect, a great contractor and excellent communication with the owner. Selecting the wrong vendors can be both expensive and frustrating. Likewise, a great substance abuse testing program takes great design, implementation and ongoing support. Understanding and translating your program design is key to building a successful partnership and selecting the right partner."

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona (BCBSAZ), the state's largest locally based healthcare insurer, and Sharecare, the digital health company that helps people manage all their health in one place, today announced a strategic partnership to empower every Arizonan, regardless of insurance coverage, to improve their holistic health and well-being. Additionally, this deal provides exclusivity to BCBSAZ as the only Arizona-based health plan to offer the Sharecare platform to members or commercial customer groups.