04/15/2024 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 04/15/2024 19:51
Murray led a comment letter on proposed rule in October, supporting EEOC's reading of "pregnancy, childbirth, and related medical conditions" as encompassing the full range of covered conditions
Washington, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), a senior member and former Chair of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee, issued the following statement on the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC)'s final rule implementing the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act, legislation Murray helped lead to passage and advanced through committee as the Chair of the HELP Committee.
The Pregnant Workers Fairness Act (PWFA) requires that most employers with 15 or more employees make reasonable accommodations such as additional bathroom breaks, light duty, or a stool to sit on if a worker stands all day to allow pregnant workers to continue working safely. PWFA builds on existing protections against pregnancy discrimination under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and access to reasonable accommodations under the Americans with Disabilities Act. The legislation was signed into law in December 2022 as part of the year-end funding package and went into effect on June 27, 2023.
"I was proud to help pass the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act to deliver important new protections for pregnant moms on the job everywhere-making sure they can count on reasonable accommodations like time off for health care appointments and having a place to sit down. Today's final rule correctly takes a comprehensive view of pregnancy and related medical conditions-ensuring the law will provide protections to more women who need them. This rule gives clarity to employers and workers and is a significant step toward making our workplaces more family-friendly and ensuring working moms and soon-to-be moms have the support they need."
Highlights from the final regulation include:
More information about the PWFA and the EEOC's final rule, including resources for employers and workers, is available on the EEOC's "What You Should Know about the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act" webpage.
For more information on pregnancy discrimination, please visit https://www.eeoc.gov/pregnancy-discrimination.
###