DOL, EEOC publish new resources on Pregnant Workers Fairness Act

Washington — To mark the one-year anniversary of the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act and the Providing Urgent Maternal Protections (PUMP) for Nursing Mothers Act, the Department of Labor and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission have published a new set of resources.

Under the PWFA, employers must provide reasonable accommodations for pregnant employees, such as breaks or water. The PUMP Act mandates “reasonable break time for an employee to express breast milk for their nursing child” for up to one year after a child’s birth.

The new resources outline workers’ rights under both laws. DOL also will host a series of industry-specific webinars on the PUMP Act. 

“Failures to accommodate limitations related to pregnancy and nursing have long acted as barriers to equitable workforce participation by women,” acting Labor Secretary Julie Su and EEOC Chair Charlotte A. Burrows said in a joint statement. “Since these laws have been in effect, we have already seen that the PWFA and the PUMP Act are helping support the health and economic security of pregnant, postpartum, and nursing workers and their families nationwide.”