Senate adds pregnancy accommodations to spending bill

Dive Temporary:

• The U.S. Senate voted 73 to 24 Thursday to incorporate the Pregnant Employees Equity Act as a part of a broader omnibus spending invoice that might be voted on forward of the vacation weekend. The information signifies that the PWFA — which might require employers with 15 or extra workers to supply affordable lodging for job candidates and workers with identified limitations associated to being pregnant, childbirth and associated medical circumstances — has cleared a key hurdle in gaining bipartisan assist.
• Lawmakers additionally included the Offering Pressing Maternal Protections for Nursing Moms Act (often known as the PUMP Act) to broaden office pumping protections.
• The Senate accepted the total invoice Thursday afternoon; it now goes to the U.S. Home of Representatives, the place a vote on the invoice could happen as quickly as Thursday evening, Politico reported.

Dive Perception:

The PWFA noticed comparatively bipartisan assist lately; the invoice was co-sponsored by Sens. Invoice Cassidy, R-La., and Bob Casey, D-Pa., who acknowledged close to the start of 2022 their intention to get it handed earlier than the top of the 12 months.

The Pregnant Employees Equity Act ought to have and will have handed overwhelmingly way back with an up or down vote. Regardless, this modification ensured pregnant moms may have the office lodging they want. That is pro-mother, pro-life, and pro-family. #PWFA

— U.S. Senator Invoice Cassidy, M.D. (@SenBillCassidy) December 22, 2022

Nevertheless, the PWFA’s passage had been prevented because of objections relating to its lack of an exemption for spiritual employers. These considerations had been addressed in an edit to the proposal to incorporate language much like that of Part 702 of the 1964 Civil Rights Act, in keeping with Adrienne Schweer, fellow on the suppose tank Bipartisan Coverage Heart.

Ought to the PWFA cross as a part of Congress’ bigger spending invoice, Schweer stated the provisions would create a “good nationwide customary” for employers whereas addressing considerations held by many pregnant employees. A joint survey revealed in February by BPC and Morning Seek the advice of discovered that almost 1 in 4 U.S. moms had thought-about leaving their jobs because of a scarcity of affordable lodging or concern of discrimination throughout being pregnant. One in 5 stated they skilled such discrimination at work.

“Employers need for there to be a transparent requirement that they will level to and discuss to their workers about in order that the requirements match their values,” Schweer stated. “[The PWFA] might be a useful instrument for firms and HR administrators.”

Information of the PUMP Act’s passage is the newest growth in lawmakers’ efforts so as to add protections for workers who breastfeed. Simply weeks in the past, New York enacted a regulation that can require employers within the state to satisfy new lactation room necessities and breastfeeding coverage necessities.

“Nobody ought to have to decide on between their job and a wholesome being pregnant, and now — lastly — they gained’t,” Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., stated in a press release on the PWFA’s passage emailed to HR Dive. “For a lot too lengthy, too many employees enthusiastic about welcoming a brand new child needed to fear about shedding their jobs — all as a result of their employers might deny them fundamental, low-cost lodging like a toilet break or a stool to sit down on. However now the Pregnant Employees Equity Act will lastly shut gaps in our federal regulation to make sure pregnant employees can keep on the job with the affordable lodging they want.”