New Federal Pregnant Workers Fairness Act Prompts EEOC to Update “Know Your Rights: Workplace Discrimination is Illegal” Poster

State Update Overview

On June 27, 2023, the new Pregnant Workers Fairness Act (PWFA) takes effect. The PWFA requires covered employers to provide reasonable accommodations to a worker’s known limitations related to pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions, unless the accommodation will cause the employer an undue hardship. The federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) has updated its “Know Your Rights: Workplace Discrimination is Illegal” Poster to summarize the new law.

EEOC “Know Your Rights” Poster Updates

• Illegal employment discrimination on the bases of childbirth is included under sex discrimination.
• Illegal employment discrimination includes interference, coercion, or threats related to exercising rights regarding disability discrimination or pregnancy accommodation.
• Failure to provide reasonable accommodations for pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical condition can be considered discriminatory.
• Discriminatory employment practice can include conduct that coerces, intimidates, threatens, or interferes with someone exercising their rights, or someone assisting or encouraging someone else to exercise rights, regarding disability discrimination (including accommodation) or pregnancy accommodation.

EEOC Labor Law Poster Updates

Covered employers are required by federal law to display the new “Know Your Rights: Workplace Discrimination is Illegal” poster along with other federally-mandated posting requirements where it is sufficiently accessible and viewable to all employees. This change has been reflected in our Federal Labor Law Poster and does require an immediate mandatory update. Failure to meet compliance requirements and display the updated poster could result in fines.

Order your Federal & State Labor Law Posters to include this new federal law and any state-specific mid-year updates.