Parenting Pointers - Navigating the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act (PWFA)

I recently attended a presentation from Healthy Horizons (a corporate lactation service that helps companies create parent benefit programs and lactation rooms). They discussed the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act, and also shared a lot of helpful information.

Nursing offers health and cost benefits to mother and baby - and supporting nursing mothers is beneficial to companies too. The PUMP Act expands protections that were already in place for nursing mothers in their babies first year, and the PWFA goes even further. It requires reasonable accommodations for pregnant and nursing workers, applies to all employers with 15 or more employees, and is in addition to any existing state laws. Common accommodations covered under the law include more frequent breaks, a lactation space, and temporary adjustment of duties or schedule.

For companies looking for ways to meet those requirements, Healthy Horizons can be one resource on creating accommodations that suit both company and pregnant workers.

More resources:

Equal Employment Opportunity Commission - PWFA What You Should Know 

Department of Labor map that allows you to check your state for different types of protections.

About Healthy Horizons

Based in San Francisco, CA, Healthy Horizons Corporate Lactation Services is a first-to-market, industry leader supporting companies in the creation of new parent benefit programs and workplace lactation rooms. The Healthy Horizons client list features forward-thinking, employee-centric corporations including Ford Motor Company, PayPal, Amgen, and other Fortune 100 companies, as well as mid-sized companies and startups across the U.S. and Canada. With lactation rooms in more than 100 North American cities, Healthy Horizons has positively impacted more than 1 million women, parents, and children over their 30 years in business. A woman-owned, women-run business, Healthy Horizons was founded by Shelia Dukas-Jankos, MPH, IBCLC, LE, RLC, recipient of the U.S. Congressional award, and her daughter, Cassi Janakos, MS.