The UFCW applauds the recent passage of the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act, a historic win that enshrines the right of pregnant and postpartum workers to reasonable accommodations in their workplaces. The law will go into effect on June 27, 2023.
Until now, there were no legal protections for workers who needed workplace accommodations for pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions. Therefore, many women were forced out of the workforce, putting them and their families in a financially perilous position.
The new law covers federal and private employers with more than 15 employees and the workers can be in full-time, part-time, temporary, and seasonal positions. Employers must have good faith discussions regarding what accommodations the worker needs and cannot retaliate against them by firing or reducing their hours.
Reasonable accommodations may include:
• Light duty
• Additional and/or more flexible breaks
• Private space for lactations needs
• Allowing water at the workstation
• Scheduling flexibility to attend medical appointments
You can learn more about the rights workers have under the law here.