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You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2023/jun/27/pregnant-employees-law-worker-fairness-act-morning-sickness
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| New federal law provides workplace accommodations to pregnant people | New federal law provides workplace accommodations to pregnant people |
| (4 days later) | |
| Pregnant Workers Fairness Act provides a range of arrangements for pregnancy-related conditions including morning sickness | Pregnant Workers Fairness Act provides a range of arrangements for pregnancy-related conditions including morning sickness |
| A new federal law that requires employers to provide accommodations to pregnant and postpartum employees took effect on Tuesday, providing protections to millions of eligible people. | A new federal law that requires employers to provide accommodations to pregnant and postpartum employees took effect on Tuesday, providing protections to millions of eligible people. |
| The Pregnant Workers Fairness Act requires that employers with more than 15 workers provide “reasonable accommodations” to people who are pregnant, postpartum or have a related medical condition, NBC News reported. | The Pregnant Workers Fairness Act requires that employers with more than 15 workers provide “reasonable accommodations” to people who are pregnant, postpartum or have a related medical condition, NBC News reported. |
| The legislation covers accommodations for a myriad of pregnancy-related conditions including morning sickness, pregnancy loss and postpartum depression. | The legislation covers accommodations for a myriad of pregnancy-related conditions including morning sickness, pregnancy loss and postpartum depression. |
| Examples of possible accommodations include being able to sit and drink water, having flexible hours and having uniforms that fit properly, according to information from the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. | Examples of possible accommodations include being able to sit and drink water, having flexible hours and having uniforms that fit properly, according to information from the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. |
| Accommodations could also include time off for childbirth recovery and time to access an abortion, the 19th News reported. | Accommodations could also include time off for childbirth recovery and time to access an abortion, the 19th News reported. |
| Under the act, a pregnant employee can request accommodations from their employer, with both parties having a discussion on if the accommodation can be granted. | Under the act, a pregnant employee can request accommodations from their employer, with both parties having a discussion on if the accommodation can be granted. |
| If such accommodations cannot be made, an employer can offer time off as a last resort, CNN reported. The employee can also report employers who fail to provide accommodations to the commission. | If such accommodations cannot be made, an employer can offer time off as a last resort, CNN reported. The employee can also report employers who fail to provide accommodations to the commission. |
| The commission will be required to provide guidelines on how employers should implement the new law and examples of reasonable accommodations by the end of the year, according to NBC. | The commission will be required to provide guidelines on how employers should implement the new law and examples of reasonable accommodations by the end of the year, according to NBC. |
| About 2.8 million people could benefit from the new legislation each year, which amounts to approximately 70% of all pregnant women. | About 2.8 million people could benefit from the new legislation each year, which amounts to approximately 70% of all pregnant women. |
| Dina Bakst, co-president of the labor advocate group A Better Balance, told the New York Times that the new law meant pregnant workers no longer had to choose between “maintaining a healthy pregnancy or a safe recovery from childbirth and a paycheck”. | Dina Bakst, co-president of the labor advocate group A Better Balance, told the New York Times that the new law meant pregnant workers no longer had to choose between “maintaining a healthy pregnancy or a safe recovery from childbirth and a paycheck”. |
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| Bakst called the legislation “a win for women, families and the economy”. | Bakst called the legislation “a win for women, families and the economy”. |
| The law has been in the works for over a decade, having first been introduced in Congress in 2012, the Times reported. | The law has been in the works for over a decade, having first been introduced in Congress in 2012, the Times reported. |
| It finally passed with bipartisan support in December 2022 as awareness grew about poor maternal outcomes in the US and the lack of support for pregnant workers, according to the Times. | It finally passed with bipartisan support in December 2022 as awareness grew about poor maternal outcomes in the US and the lack of support for pregnant workers, according to the Times. |