What’s at Stake Today

Many pregnant women don’t need any changes on the job, but some are advised by their health care providers to take steps like avoiding heavy lifting or to sit instead of standing during long shifts behind a cash register. Those types of temporary job adjustments are routinely provided to workers with disabilities — but pregnant women are often denied, leaving them without income when their families are counting on them the most.

What Is NWLC Doing?  

We are leading the fight for the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act, a common-sense bill that would require employers to make reasonable accommodations when workers have a medical need for them due to pregnancy or childbirth. We’re working to make sure that no woman will be forced to choose between the health of her pregnancy and her paycheck.

We also collaborate with state lawmakers to ensure that pregnant employees in their states can get reasonable accommodations at work. We work in court to support the rights of pregnant women who’ve lost their paychecks after their employers wouldn’t make the temporary changes on the job they needed. And we support efforts to ensure that women have access to critical supports at work after their babies are born, like paid family leave and lactation accommodations.