On April 15, 2024, the EEOC announced its final rule implementing the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act (PWFA), a landmark federal law protecting workers when they need simple changes to their jobs because of their pregnancy. Legal Aid at Work applauds the final rule, which provides clarity to employees and employers and will ensure that pregnant workers are not pushed out of their jobs during their pregnancy, losing income and access to health benefits at a crucial time for their families.
California has long required work-related accommodations for conditions related to pregnancy and childbirth. As Legal Aid at Work highlighted in our comments to the EEOC in support of the proposed rule, in our decades of experience representing pregnant workers, we have seen that robust enforcement of these protections has a vital impact on the health, wellbeing, and economic security of pregnant workers, especially those in low-paid and physically demanding jobs. We also have seen the profound need for these protections among federal employees who may live in California but are not covered by California law. The PWFA and implementing regulations represent a huge step forward for all pregnant working people and their families.