MA Senate Unanimously Votes to Pass Pregnant Workers Fairness Act
Wednesday, July 05, 2017
“In addition to protecting the health of pregnant employees, the bill also promotes economic security for workers and their families, and I am proud to stand with the Massachusetts Senate in support of expecting mothers,” said Senator Harriette Chandler.
The bill will now be reconciled with the House version of the bill, which was passed last month, before being sent to the Governor for his signature.
The Legislation
Under this legislation, employers are prohibited from discriminating against an employee or prospective employee due to pregnancy or a condition related to the pregnancy, such as lactation or the need to express breast milk for a nursing child.
Employers are also required to provide reasonable accommodations for workers who are pregnant.
At the request of a pregnant employee, employers must undergo a good faith and interactive process to determine an effective reasonable accommodation. Provisions include low cost modifications such as providing employees with a stool to sit on, allowing for more frequent bathroom breaks, allowing the worker to carry a bottle of water, or providing a private non-bathroom space for lactation.
Employers are not required to provide accommodations that would impose an undue hardship on the employer’s business.
In addition, employers are prohibited from refusing to hire a pregnant job candidate solely because the candidate requires a reasonable accommodation. Employers are not permitted to force pregnant employees to accept an accommodation that they do not want or to take leave if another reasonable accommodation may be provided.
Related Articles
- BREAKING: Chandler Holds On to State Senate Seat
- BREAKING: Fattman Wins in Huge Upset in State Senate Race
- Mass Fiscal Alliance Supports Rosenberg’s Proposed Changes to Senate Rules
- MA Senate Passes Bill to Set Safe Patient Limits for Nurses
- MA Gun Advocates Clash Over Senate-Passed Bill
- Senate Hopeful Fattman Endorsed by Citizens of Limited Taxation PAC
- Giorgio: Thoughts on the Midterm Senate Election
- Senator Chandler and MA State Senate Hosted Israel’s Yaakov
- MA Senate Passes Legislation to Repeal License Suspension for Drug Violations
- Devine to Run for U.S. Senate Seat Against Warren
- U.S. Senate Confirms Gorsuch as 113th Supreme Court Justice
- Weiss: GOP Health Care Reform Moves to Senate
- Weiss: Senate Health Bill Vote Expected This Week, Dems Call Bill “Meaner” Than House Version
- Real-Time Election Results for President, Senate, and House
- MA Senate Passes Bill to Keep Evidence for Rape & Sexual Assault Victims
- Cheat Sheet 10, FBI Files Unveils the Big Wedding, Patriarca’s Girl and Senate Testimony
Follow us on Pinterest Google + Facebook Twitter See It Read It