Pregnant Workers Fairness Act
Summary
Pregnant Workers Fairness Act This bill prohibits employment practices that discriminate against making reasonable accommodations for qualified employees affected by pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions. A qualified employee is an employee or applicant who, with or without reasonable accommodation, can perform the essential functions of the position, with specified exceptions. Specifically, the bill declares that it is an unlawful employment practice to fail to make reasonable accommodations to known limitations of such employees unless the accommodation would impose an undue hardship on an entity's business operation; require a qualified employee affected by such condition to accept an accommodation other than any reasonable accommodation arrived at through an interactive process; deny employment opportunities based on the need of the entity to make such reasonable accommodations to a qualified employee; require such employees to take paid or unpaid leave if another reasonable accommodation can be provided; or take adverse action in terms, conditions, or privileges of employment against a qualified employee requesting or using such reasonable accommodations. The bill sets forth enforcement procedures and remedies that cover different types of employees in relation to such unlawful employment practices. The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission must provide examples of reasonable accommodations that shall be provided to affected employees unless the employer can demonstrate that doing so would impose an undue hardship. The bill prohibits state immunity under the Eleventh Amendment to the Constitution from an action for a violation of this bill.
Bill status
in committee
1 of 4 stages cleared
Introduction
Apr 2021
Committee Review
Floor Vote
President
Introduced Apr 29, 2021
Last action Sep 30, 2021
Floor votes
How they voted
No floor votes recorded yet.
Full legislative history
Actions timeline
Total actions
5
Key actions
2
Committee
3
Sep 30, 2021
Upper · Passed
Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. Reported by Senator Murray with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. Without written report.
upper
Aug 3, 2021
Upper · Passed
Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
upper
Apr 29, 2021
Committee
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
upper
Apr 29, 2021
Introduced
Introduced in Senate
upper
1 primary · 40 co-sponsors
Sponsors
Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Robert P. Casey, Jr.
DDemocratic
Co
Alex Padilla
DDemocratic
Co
Amy Klobuchar
DDemocratic
Co
Angus S. King, Jr.
IIndependent
Co
Ben Ray Luján
DDemocratic
Co
Benjamin L. Cardin
DDemocratic
Co
Bill Cassidy
RRepublican
Co
Charles E. Schumer
DDemocratic
Co
Chris Van Hollen
DDemocratic
Co
Christopher A. Coons
DDemocratic
Co
Chuck Grassley
RRepublican
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