7 months ago
EEOC May Narrow Pregnant Worker Accommodation Rules
The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), led by Chair Andrea Lucas, is considering changes to the rules that protect pregnant workers.
These rules, part of the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act (PWFA) passed in 2022, require employers to make reasonable accommodations for pregnant employees.
Chair Lucas thinks the current rules are too broad and may remove protections related to abortions and in vitro fertilization.
Some people are worried that these changes could make it harder for pregnant workers to get the help they need.
For example, Kennisha, a pregnant worker at Sonic, was denied a request to sit down occasionally, and Willamina Barclay, a pregnant worker at Amazon, was denied lower-stress tasks and eventually fired.
The EEOC says it still prioritizes pregnancy discrimination cases, but some advocates are concerned that the agency's new focus might overlook cases like these.
EEOC Chair Andrea Lucas plans to narrow the scope of pregnant worker accommodation rules under the PWFA.
Current rules, which cover a range of pregnancy-related conditions, may be changed to exclude protections related to abortions and in vitro fertilization.
Pregnant workers like Kennisha and Willamina Barclay have filed complaints alleging denial of accommodations and subsequent job loss.
Advocates and experts warn that narrowing the rules could expose pregnant workers to discrimination and deny them financial remedies in court.
The EEOC maintains that pregnancy discrimination and harassment cases remain a priority, but workplace lawyers expect changes soon.
- Who
- EEOC Chair Andrea Lucas and pregnant workers like Kennisha and Willamina Barclay
- What
- Potential narrowing of pregnant worker accommodation rules under the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act (PWFA)
- Where
- United States, with specific cases in Ohio and New York
- When
- Changes expected soon, with the EEOC's 2026 regulatory agenda pending
- Why
- EEOC Chair Andrea Lucas believes the current rules are too broad and aims to reflect a conservative view of civil rights
Key facts
- Primary Category
- GOVERNMENT
- Secondary Category
- Labor Laws
- Tertiary Category
- Pregnancy Accommodations
- Quaternary Category
- EEOC Regulations
- Pregnancy-Related Complaints (2024)
- 2,700
- EEOC Chair
- Andrea Lucas
- Pregnant Workers Fairness Act (PWFA)
- 2022
- Miscarriage Rate Reduction
- Nearly 10 percent
Quotes
Andrea Lucas
Republican EEOC Chair.
“The regulations were written too broadly.”
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“The EEOC continues to prioritize and litigate pregnancy discrimination and harassment cases.”
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Kennisha
A pregnant woman who was denied accommodation at a Sonic fast-food outlet.
“It does feel good to have a new job, but it's still in the back of my mind now.”
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Inimai Chettiar
President of legal and advocacy group A Better Balance.
“We do have some concerns on how rigorously the EEOC is going to be investigating these types of violations.”
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Kalpana Kotagal
Democratic EEOC Commissioner.
“Efforts to weaken the PWFA’s meaningful worker protections, which have been shown to reduce miscarriage rates by nearly 10 percent, are misguided. We should be standing up for women and families, not weakening their civil rights.”
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Kelly Nantel
Amazon spokesperson.
“We strive to provide a safe and supportive environment for everyone. We’ll keep listening to our teams and investigating any concerns they raise, and if we find that we got something wrong, we work hard to make it right.”
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