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Being discriminated against in the workplace because of pregnancy is a burden no woman should bear. That’s why New York will soon become the 15th state in the country to pass a bill that will protect the rights of pregnant workers. This bill will join laws already on the books such as the Pregnancy Discrimination Act and Americans with Disabilities Act.
The bill, which is part of a legislative package referred to as the Women’s Equality Act, will afford pregnant workers a host of accommodations so they can stay on the job. That is unless their employer can prove that working will create excessive hardship. According to the bill, these accommodations include things like “a stool to sit on, extra restroom breaks, transfer-away from hazardous duties, a temporary reprieve from heavy lifting, or reasonable time for child-birth recovery.” The bill also acknowledges that the state of New York has fallen behind when it comes to its role as a progressive leader on women’s rights.
According to a recent article published in Think Progress in reference to the bill, “Across the country, an estimated quarter million women are denied [pregnancy specific] requests every year, which means they often end up pushed onto unpaid leave, fired, or experience health complications including miscarriage. More women don’t even ask for accommodations because they fear retaliation.” Considering the extent of gender inequality in the workplace, the provisions outlined in the Women’s Equality Act are necessary and a definite step in the right direction towards fairness and equality.
In a statement released on May 5, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo said this about the bill:
“Today, the Assembly passed two important pieces of legislation that strengthen New York’s role as a national leader in standing up for women’s equality. With the long overdue passage of bills that expand protections against both sexual harassment and pregnancy discrimination, we are ensuring that equal rights are protected in New York. I was proud to introduce these two measures as part of the Women’s Equality Act more than two years ago, and I look forward to signing them into law as we continue to build a more fair society.”
Have you ever been discriminated against due to pregnancy? What further steps do you feel need to be enacted to ensure the fair treatment of pregnant women in the workplace?
