As reproductive rights have become an issue across our nation, one of the few areas of general agreement is often the need to support pregnant women. After being reintroduced each year since 2012, the bipartisan Pregnant Workers Fairness Act (H.R. 1065) seeks to do just that by prohibiting employment practices that discriminate against making reasonable accommodations for qualified employees affected by pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions. Under this act, the right to a reasonable accommodation is assumed, instead of putting the burden on pregnant employees to identify a comparable accommodation that had been provided. These protections are necessary because pregnancy is not automatically a disability under the Americans with Disabilities Act.
Although this bill passed the House over a year ago with support from all four Utah representatives, a Senate version (S.1486) is co-sponsored by Senator Mitt Romney, and it is supported by many national groups including the U.S. Chamber of Commerce (who is urging Senators to become cosponsors), nevertheless, it has stalled in the Senate.
Senator Mike Lee, who has introduced a resolution designating the week of November 7th as National Pregnancy Center Week, does not appear to support the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act. His office declined to comment on a recent KSL NewsRadio story because the Senate was out for the Rosh Hashana holiday. Please let Senator Lee know that the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act is essential to support working pregnant people and that he should join the rest of the Utah delegation in supporting this Act.