ACLU Statement on Congress’ First Step to Pass the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act

WASHINGTON — The House Committee on Education and Labor advanced, by a vote of 29-17, bipartisan legislation today that will protect the health and economic security of pregnant workers. The Pregnant Workers Fairness Act would make clear that employers must provide reasonable accommodations for pregnant employees — such as schedule changes or a break from heavy lifting — that would enable them to stay in the workforce while maintaining a healthy pregnancy.

“No one should have to choose between a healthy pregnancy and their job. Pregnant workers continue to be fired, forced to quit, or put on unpaid leave when they ask their employer for temporary job accommodations so they can keep working. The ACLU has stepped in to defend the rights of pregnant workers forced off the job, but it’s long past time for Congress to end this discriminatory treatment by passing the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act. Today’s committee vote was an important step forward in the fight to protect pregnant workers’ rights and economic security,” said ACLU Senior Legislative Counsel Vania Leveille.