Pregnant Workers Have Expanded Protections at Work Thanks to 2 New Laws
On April 28th, 2023 the PUMP for Nursing Mothers Act went into effect and on June 27th, 2023 the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act officially went into effect. Both of these nationwide laws provide pregnant workers with additional protections that will keep themselves and their babies healthy.
Pregnant Workers Fairness Act
The Pregnant Workers Fairness Act provides rights to receive reasonable accommodations for limitations due to pregnancy, childbirth and related medical conditions. This laws means that pregnant workers can not be forced out of a job or retaliated against for needing reasonable accommodations at work.
Examples of reasonable accommodations include:
Light duty, or help with manual labor and lifting
Temporary transfer to a less physically demanding or safer position
Additional, longer, or more flexible breaks to drink water, eat, rest, or use the bathroom
Changing food or drink policies to allow a worker to have a water bottle or food
Changing equipment, devices, or work station, such as providing a stool to sit on or adding a lock to a clean meeting room to turn it into a temporary lactation space
Making existing facilities easier to use, such as relocating a workstation closer to the restroom
Changing a uniform or dress code, like allowing wearing maternity pants
Changing a work schedule, like having shorter work hours or a later start time to accommodate morning sickness
Breaks, private space (not in a bathroom), and other accommodations for lactation needs
Flexible scheduling for prenatal or postnatal appointments
Remote work or telework
Time off for bedrest, recovery from childbirth, postpartum depression, mastitis, and more
For a more detailed fact sheet on the Pregnant Workers Fairness Law, please click here.
PUMP for Nursing Mothers Act
This new law updates the Break Time for Nursing Mothers law that requires employers to provide reasonable break time and a private, non-bathroom space for employees to pump milk during the workday.
An important update in the PUMP act is that it gives employees whose rights are violated the ability to sue their employer in court.
To learn more about the expanded rights the PUMP act offers workers, please click here.
If you or someone you work with needs assistance in securing accommodations at work, please contact your Union Representative or click here to see some sample letters to give to your employer provided by our friends at A Better Balance.
