Pregnant Workers Fairness Act goes into effect June 18

The Pregnant Workers Fairness Act (PWFA) will go into effect on June 18. The law requires all US businesses with at least 15 employees to make accommodations for pregnant workers.

The federal law was passed in 2023 and given approval by the US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission in April 2024.

According to The Human Resource Consulting Group “Every year, numerous pregnant women experience job loss, either through termination or being placed on unpaid leave, due to a lack of obligation for employers to provide reasonable accommodations. The Pregnant Workers Fairness Act (PWFA), however, is changing this by requiring employers to modify their policies to include employees who encompass any physical or mental conditions related to, impacted by, or arising from pregnancy, childbirth, or associated medical conditions, regardless of whether they meet the definition of disability under the ADA.”

Reasonable accommodations include considerations like allowing pregnant employees to have more frequent bathroom breaks, handle less physically demanding tasks, use a stool instead of standing for a long period of time, allowing for dress code variances that include maternity clothes, and permitting scheduling flexibility for pregnancy-related appointments.

For more information visit: https://www.eeoc.gov/wysk/what-you-should-know-about-pregnant-workers-fairness-act