House Passes Pregnant Workers Fairness Act

Jun 1, 2021, 5:03 PM

(From JD Supra) Last week, federal legislation intended to clarify and expand protections for pregnant employees passed the House of Representatives. The bill would require private sector employers with 15 or more workers to make “reasonable accommodations” for pregnant employees and job applicants. Those accommodations include an extra bathroom break, a stool, limiting contact with certain chemicals and a reduction in lifting requirements. Also under the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act:

Like the Americans with Disabilities Act, employers are not required to make an accommodation if it imposes an undue hardship on an employer’s business.
Workers denied a reasonable accommodation under the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act will have the same rights and remedies as those established under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. These include lost pay, compensatory damages, and reasonable attorneys’ fees.