Fitness programs, healthful food choices, classes, health clinics and more — employer wellness programs are becoming an increasingly popular way to create happier and healthier employees and, in turn, more productive workplaces. However, it’s important to note that while employer-sponsored wellness programs may provide potential health and cost benefits, the health information collected for these programs is not covered under health privacy laws, such as the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA).

This means that when you give your company information about your health history, there are no safeguards around how they will use it. So, if you are worried about disclosing your cancer diagnosis, or protecting your privacy, you should think carefully about what information you are sharing with your employer, what their privacy policies are, and what they plan to do with the information, before you hand over any personal health info.

Click here for more about HIPAA protections, and read our blog post “Happiness at Work: Learning from Denmark,” for tips on how Americans can make work a happier place.