ACTION ALERT: 39 years after the Pregnancy Discrimination Act, pregnancy discrimination is still a reality

Today marks 39 years since the Pregnancy Discrimination Act, yet pregnant workers are still experiencing pregnancy discrimination in the workforce by being denied job accommodations or are being fired for requesting them.

Many women needing to continue working during their pregnancy to earn crucial income for themselves and their families,  lack basic accommodations, such as being able to drink water or use a chair during their work shift. Often times, these women are forced out of their job or forced to continue working under unhealthy conditions, risking their own health as well as the health of their babies.

The federal Pregnant Workers Fairness Act (PWFA) was introduced earlier this year in Congress with bi-partisan support to ensure that pregnant workers are not forced out of their jobs unnecessarily or denied reasonable job accommodations that would allow them to continue working and earning a paycheck to support their families.

Lawmakers across the country are recognizing the importance of these kinds of protections for pregnant workers. In fact, twenty-two states and five cities now have pregnant worker fairness laws. And many of these laws were passed with unanimous or strong bi-partisan legislative support.

The Pregnant Workers Fairness Act is not only the right thing to do for workers, but it is also good for business and the economy. This legislation will provide much needed clarity in the law, save companies money that might otherwise be spent on costly litigation, and ultimately help their bottom line.

No one should be forced to choose between a healthy pregnancy and earning a paycheck. The Pregnant Workers Fairness Act (PWFA) helps to ensure that pregnant workers are not discriminated against in the workplace. It provides basic protections that help pregnant workers continue on the job to support their families without compromising their health.

Join us in calling on Senator Rob Portman to sign on as a co-sponsor of the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act (S. 1101). Take action:

2. Get active on social media using the hashtag #PWFA to tweet at Senator Portman and urge his support of the PWFA. Use our sample tweets below:

.@senrobportman #Pregnant workers get pushed off the job when they need a paycheck most. Pls cosponsor Pregnant Workers Fairness Act! #PWFA