"Pregnant Workers' Rights: Recent Developments and Protections"

The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) has issued a final rule to implement the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act (PWFA), requiring most employers with 15 or more employees to provide reasonable accommodations for a worker’s known limitations related to pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions, unless it causes undue hardship. The final rule provides clarity to employers and workers about who is covered, the types of limitations and medical conditions covered, how individuals can request reasonable accommodations, and numerous concrete examples. EEOC Chair Charlotte A. Burrows emphasized that the PWFA is a win for workers, families, and the economy, providing clear access to reasonable accommodations and preventing discrimination and retaliation.