(WNY News Now) – New York – In a significant legal move, Attorney General Letitia James is leading a coalition of 23 attorneys general to support the EEOC’s rule mandating reasonable accommodations for pregnant and postpartum employees, including those seeking abortion care. This comes in response to a lawsuit aiming to halt these regulations, filed by several states in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Arkansas.
“The Pregnant Workers Fairness Act (PWFA) is vital for protecting the health and livelihood of millions of workers,” said AG James. “In these times when reproductive health services are under threat, ensuring that workers who seek abortion care are protected by this law is crucial. No worker should have to choose between their health and their job.”
Enacted in 2022, the PWFA is the first federal law to require employers to provide accommodations for pregnant and postpartum workers, such as additional breaks or excused time off for medical appointments. Prior to this, inconsistent laws left many workers vulnerable to health issues and job loss, disproportionately affecting low-income workers and workers of color. In August 2023, the EEOC proposed a rule to implement the PWFA, which includes accommodations for workers whose pregnancies end in abortion.
In April 2024, states led by Tennessee challenged this rule in court, arguing against the requirement to provide accommodations for abortion care and seeking to block the EEOC rule.
AG James, supported by attorneys general from 22 other states and the District of Columbia, filed an amicus brief emphasizing the importance of the PWFA. The brief highlights the economic and health risks that pregnancy discrimination poses, particularly to low-wage workers and workers of color, and supports the EEOC’s interpretation of pregnancy-related protections to include miscarriage, stillbirth, and abortion.
This initiative is part of AG James’ broader efforts to safeguard reproductive rights and workplace protections. She has previously taken actions against anti-abortion groups, supported legislation to expand reproductive health services, and secured resources for families impacted by corporate price gouging.
Joining AG James in this legal defense are attorneys general from Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawai‘i, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, and the District of Columbia.
Leave a Reply