Early EEOC Pregnant Worker Bias Suits Signal Enforcement Goals

The EEOC’s first-ever Pregnant Workers Fairness Act lawsuits filed as the 2024 fiscal year drew to a close indicate the agency’s seriousness about enforcement, and reveal changes to the employee accommodation process for companies.

The landmark anti-bias law went into effect in June 2023, followed by the US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission’s regulations under the PWFA around a year later. The law and accompanying rules require employers to make reasonable accommodations for pregnant workers or those with “related” medical conditions.

Workers have already brought their own litigation under the PWFA and some early cases have been resolved behind the scenes. ...