Pregnancy, Parenting, and the Workplace

More families depend on women's income than ever before. We're working to make sure that women don't have to choose between having a child and having a job.  An important tool to advance the rights of working women is the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act.

Learn more about pregnancy, parenting and the workplace:

Highlights

Reports & Toolkits | It Shouldn't Be a Heavy Lift: Fair Treatment for Pregnant Workers

June 18, 2013

Almost 35 years after the Pregnancy Discrimination Act made it illegal to discriminate against a woman because of her pregnancy, women still face discrimination on the job when they become pregnant. This report details what happens when some workers ask for temporary modifications of their job duties because of pregnancy, such as avoiding heavy lifting, staying off high ladders, or being permitted to sit down during a long shift. 

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Fact Sheet | The Pregnant Workers Fairness Act: Making Room for Pregnancy on the Job

May 29, 2013

The Pregnant Workers Fairness Act (PWFA), introduced in both the House and the Senate, would let pregnant women continue to do their jobs and support their families by requiring employers to make the same sorts of accommodations for pregnancy, childbirth, and related medical conditions that they do for disabilities.  This fact sheet outlines the provisions of the bill and discusses the enormous impact its passage would have for working parents and their families.

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Fact Sheet | The Business Case for Accommodating Pregnant Workers

December 4, 2012

This fact sheet explores why accommodating pregant employees can benefit an employer's bottom line.

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Fact Sheet | Accommodating Pregnancy on the Job: Lessons from the Americans with Disabilities Act

May 29, 2013

The Pregnant Workers Fairness Act (PWFA) would promote women's health, economic security, and nondiscriminatory treatment on the job by ensuring reasonable accommodation for workers who need changes in job rules or duties because of pregnancy, childbirth, or a related medical conditions.  This fact sheet explores how these accommodations are similar to those offered by the Americans with Disabilities Act and how we can apply its guidance to the implementation of PWFA.

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More Resources

Reports & Toolkits | It Shouldn't Be a Heavy Lift: Fair Treatment for Pregnant Workers

June 18, 2013

Almost 35 years after the Pregnancy Discrimination Act made it illegal to discriminate against a woman because of her pregnancy, women still face discrimination on the job when they become pregnant. This report details what happens when some workers ask for temporary modifications of their job duties because of pregnancy, such as avoiding heavy lifting, staying off high ladders, or being permitted to sit down during a long shift. 

 Read more...

Fact Sheet | Accommodating Pregnancy on the Job: Lessons from the Americans with Disabilities Act

May 29, 2013

The Pregnant Workers Fairness Act (PWFA) would promote women's health, economic security, and nondiscriminatory treatment on the job by ensuring reasonable accommodation for workers who need changes in job rules or duties because of pregnancy, childbirth, or a related medical conditions.  This fact sheet explores how these accommodations are similar to those offered by the Americans with Disabilities Act and how we can apply its guidance to the implementation of PWFA.

 Read more...

Fact Sheet | The Pregnant Workers Fairness Act: Making Room for Pregnancy on the Job

May 29, 2013

The Pregnant Workers Fairness Act (PWFA), introduced in both the House and the Senate, would let pregnant women continue to do their jobs and support their families by requiring employers to make the same sorts of accommodations for pregnancy, childbirth, and related medical conditions that they do for disabilities.  This fact sheet outlines the provisions of the bill and discusses the enormous impact its passage would have for working parents and their families.

 Read more...

Coalition Action Materials | National Women's Law Center Comments on Working Families Flexibility Act

April 16, 2013

The National Women Law’s Center writes to express its opposition to the Working Families Flexibility Act of 2013, H.R. 1046, introduced by Representative Martha Roby on April 9th. The Center opposes this legislation out of concern for its impact on all workers, and in particular, its impact on women workers who still shoulder the majority of caregiving responsibilities and make up a disproportionate share of workers in low-wage jobs.

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Fact Sheet | Pregnant Workers Make Up a Small Share of the Workforce and Can Be Readily Accommodated: A State-By-State Analysis

March 21, 2013
Pregnant workers in physically demanding jobs are often terminated, forced to quit, or involuntarily placed on unpaid “medical” leave because they ask for simple, reasonable, and temporary accommodations during their pregnancy such as avoiding heavy lifting or a stool to sit on. Instead of honoring these requests, many employers jeopardize the health of women and their pregnancies by making pregnant workers choose between continuing to
work under unsafe conditions or losing their paycheck.  This fact sheet details the actual numbers of pregnant workers in the workforce, a subset of which may require accommodations at some point during their pregnancies.  
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