A new federal law that aims to prevent discrimination against pregnant workers goes into effect today. The Pregnant Workers Fairness Act requires employers to provide reasonable accommodations to employees who are pregnant or have pregnancy-related conditions, unless doing so would cause undue hardship to the business.
The law also prohibits employers from denying employment opportunities, taking adverse actions, or retaliating against workers who request or use such accommodations. Additionally, the law bars employers from forcing pregnant workers to accept unwanted accommodations or take leave if they can perform their essential job functions.
The law applies to employers with 15 or more employees, as well as federal, state, and local governments. It also covers job applicants and former employees who were affected by pregnancy discrimination.
According to the National Women’s Law Center, more than 250,000 pregnant workers each year are denied their requests for accommodations, such as extra breaks, modified schedules, or temporary reassignments. The center also reports that pregnancy discrimination complaints have increased by 76 percent since 1997, with low-wage workers and women of color being disproportionately affected.
Supporters of the law say it will promote the health and economic security of pregnant workers and their families, as well as reduce turnover and litigation costs for employers. Opponents of the law argue that it will impose burdensome regulations on businesses and create incentives for lawsuits.
The Pregnant Workers Fairness Act was passed by Congress with bipartisan support in May 2023, after a decade of advocacy by civil rights groups, labor unions, and business associations. President Joe Biden signed it into law on June 15, 2023.
