The Pregnant Workers Fairness Act (PWFA) is a new federal law, effective June 27, 2023, that requires covered employers to make reasonable accommodations for qualified applicants and employees unless they cause an undue hardship. It extends reasonable accommodation rights to workers with known limitations related to pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions. The law also establishes clearer guidelines and accommodation obligations for employers. This helps ensure that workers are not treated unfairly or forced out of work due to pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions.
Possible accommodations under the PWFA may include:
- Allowing telework
- Providing access to seating
- Modifying a work schedule to allow shorter hours or a later start time
- Granting additional, longer, or more frequent breaks
- Making exceptions to food and drink policies
- Providing closer parking
- Allowing leave for medical appointments or to recover from childbirth
- Providing a temporary reassignment
JAN offers additional information about pregnancy, job accommodations, and federal non-discrimination laws in the featured resource: Accommodation and Compliance: Pregnancy.
