Thank you everyone for responding.
If I hear anything more after my wife’s friend has this meeting and they do these blood samples I’ll post it here.
In many ways I hate the paranoia that we’ve built up over the last 20 years or so. My personal first thought was that they were going to to do DNA checking for genetic diseases and use that as a reason to put the Employees on a ‘first to layoff’ list.
Take care and have yourselves a great day!
I'm going through roughly the same thing (although no blood tests, not yet) with my employer. Currently, there's a "wellness program" that we get some hard armtwisting to participate in. Next year, we've been told that we'll have mandatory screening, and a 'life coach' (read: company-approved nanny) will "help" us with areas in which we're found lacking.
I'm looking for another job.
But, to the point, although we've been assured that all results are completely confidential (then, how would the company know that we need a 'life coach', or even if we're seeing one? I asked, and was told that I asked too many questions), I had exactly the same thoughts as you. Not healthy enough? That'll get you on the short list when layoffs come. Particularly if there's someone in the dept who has the same qualifications, but ISN'T on statins, or blood pressure meds, or something.