EEOC Issues Final Regulations for the federal Pregnant Workers Fairness Act

The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) issued final regulations for the federal Pregnant Workers Fairness Act (PWFA). The PWFA went into effect on June 27, 2023. The law requires that employers with at least 15 employees provide reasonable accommodations - unless there is an "undue hardship" that prohibits making an accommodation - for qualified employees and applicants with known limitations related to, affected by, or arising out of pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions. The final regulations will be published in the Federal Register on April 19, and will go into effect 60 days after publication. The final regulations were issued after over 100,000 public comments were submitted in response to the proposed regulations. PRACTICAL POINTER: EMS employers must be considerate of all the laws related to pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions when making any employment decisions that could adversely affect the applicant or employee. HERE is the EEOC News Release.