The Pregnant Workers Fairness Act and PUMP Act: What You Need to Know

The Pregnant Workers Fairness Act and PUMP Act: What You Need to Know

The Pregnant Workers Fairness Act (PWFA) went into effect the week of June 26, 2023, requiring employers with more than 15 employees to provide “reasonable accommodations” to a worker’s “known limitations” related to pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions.

The new law allows exceptions when creating an accommodation that would cause the employer an “undue hardship” – defined as a significant difficulty or expense. The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) will issue guidance, including providing examples of reasonable accommodations addressing known limitations related to pregnancy, but in the meantime, the EEOC has published a list of FAQs in its fact sheet “What You Should Know About the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act.”

What are some examples of reasonable accommodations for pregnant workers?

Examples of possible reasonable accommodations include “the ability to sit or drink water; receive closer parking; have flexible hours; receive appropriately sized uniforms and safety apparel; receive additional break time to use the bathroom, eat, and rest; take leave or time off to recover from childbirth; and be excused from strenuous activities and/or activities that involve exposure to compounds not safe for pregnancy.”

What does the PWFA prohibit?

Covered employers cannot:

Where can I find more information on PWFA?

PUMP Act

The PUMP Act was signed into law by President Biden and immediately became effective in December 2022. Under the PUMP Act, nursing mothers must have access to 1) a private space in the workplace to pump breast milk, 2) paid break time for either hourly or salaried employees to pump, and 3) access to both private space and paid break time for up to one year of the child’s birth.

What are the requirements of the PUMP Act?

How can I comply with the PUMP Act?

Where can I find more information on the PUMP Act?

More information about Fair Labor Standards Act (FSLA) protections for employees to pump breast milk at work can be found here.