Bill > AR44

Introduced Session

This resolution respectfully urges the United States Congress to pass the "Pregnant Workers Fairness Act" (PWFA), which would allow pregnant workers to seek reasonable accommodations in the workplace. Pregnancy discrimination is an insidious form of employment discrimination that occurs when a woman suffers negative consequences at her job after becoming pregnant. It is an unfortunately common form of employment discrimination, with 62 percent of American workers having witnessed such discrimination at some point in their lives. While the federal "Pregnancy Discrimination Act" (PDA) mandates equal treatment for pregnant workers, the PDA does not adequately address the issue of employer intransigence to make reasonable work accommodations for pregnant women. As a consequence, over 250,000 pregnant workers are denied requests for accommodations each year by their employers. Under the proposed "Pregnant Workers Fairness Act," (PWFA) employers will be required to reasonably accommodate workers experiencing a limitation due to pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions. This will address the PDA's flaw regarding accommodations and will allow pregnant workers to continue working without fear of health risks or cuts in pay and benefits. The PWFA will also provide guidance to employers on their obligations toward pregnant workers, which will help increase employee retention and reduce the risk of litigation. While 27 states, including New Jersey, have laws in place that require employers to provide reasonable accommodations for pregnant workers, a national law to provide these protections would be a logical step towards ensuring an equal workplace for all pregnant workers.

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Carol Murphy (D)*, 

Introduced, Referred to Assembly Community Development and Women's Affairs Committee (on 01/09/2024)

Official Document