Tennessee Enacts Pregnant-Worker Accommodations Law

Tennessee employers must accommodate pregnant workers and new mothers without requiring them to take leave, under legislation Gov. Bill Lee (R) signed into law.

By enacting the law (SB 2520), Tennessee joins more than half of all states in requiring employers to provide reasonable accommodations to workers related to pregnancy and childbirth. The Tennessee requirement applies to employers with 15 or more employees and takes effect Oct. 1.

Employers will be able to require a medical certification from workers who ask for certain kinds of accommodations, such as lighter duty or time off, and employees will be able ...