Pregnant workers can now breathe easier as the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act (PWFA) comes into effect, providing significant breakthroughs for both frontline and desk-based pregnant employees. Under this federal law, employers with more than 15 employees are required to offer reasonable accommodations to pregnant workers, including alterations to job descriptions. This move aims to boost women’s labor force participation and is seen as a win-win for both employers and employees. Seth Turner, AbsenceSoft’s co-founder and chief strategy officer, discusses the benefits of this law and the positive impact it can have on fostering a supportive work environment for pregnant employees.
The PWFA changes that and really says you do need to look at whether you can change the job so the person can do it,” said Turner. “I think that’s what’s going to cause employers the most challenge. It has some interplay with FMLA and other leave laws, but the PWFA flips things around. 