The US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) released new information for healthcare providers to help their patients obtain pregnancy and childbirth-related accommodations in the workplace under the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act (PWFA). The PWFA is a new federal law enforced by the EEOC requiring employers to make reasonable accommodations to a qualified employee or applicant’s known physical or mental conditions affected by, related to, or arising out of pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions. A reasonable accommodation is a change in the workplace enabling an applicant or employee to apply for a job, perform their job, or enjoy access to the same benefits and privileges as other employees, such as breaks to drink water or eat, or time off for medical appointments. Providers may play a key role in helping patients obtain accommodations at work by informing their patients about the PWFA, suggesting appropriate potential accommodations, and providing supporting documentation, if necessary.
