EEOC Issues Final Rule Implementing The Pregnant Workers Fairness Act

The Pregnant Workers Fairness Act (PWFA) was enacted last year with the purpose of protecting pregnant workers from discrimination and providing them with a right to reasonable accommodations in the workplace. On April 15, 2024, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) published its Final Rule setting forth expansive regulations implementing the law. The Final Rule becomes effective June 18, 2024.

The PWFA requires employers with 15 or more employees to make reasonable accommodations to the known limitations of employees and applicants related to pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions, unless doing so would result in undue hardship. Employers are also prohibited from denying employment opportunities to employees based on their need for reasonable accommodations under the PWFA, forcing employees to take leave in lieu of providing reasonable accommodations, coercing employees to accept reasonable accommodations that were not arrived at through