Philadelphia bill would require companies to accommodate pregnant employees

Last week, I brought you this news of a bill pending in New Jersey, requiring employers to make available reasonable accommodation for pregnancy-related needs when requested by the employee with the advice of her physician.

Yesterday, I read this article in The Legal Intelligencer about this potential amendment to Philadelphia’s Fair Practices Ordinance, which too would require employers to make reasonable workplace accommodations for employees who have needs related to pregnancy, childbirth, or a related medical condition.

What, you may ask, do the bill’s sponsors have in mind for reasonable accommodation?

An accommodation that can be made by an employer in the workplace that will allow the employee to perform the essential functions of the job. Reasonable accommodations include, but are not limited to, restroom breaks, periodic rest for those who stand for long periods of time, assistance with manual labor, leave for a period of disability arising from childbirth, reassignment to a vacant position, and job restructuring.

The law would task employers with providing accommodating pregnant employees, unless doing so would create undue hardship. The Americans with Disabilities Act does not require this — except for pregnancy-related disabilities. However, the Pregnancy Discrimination Act may require it in certain circumstances. For more on that, check out Robin Shea’s post at the Employment and Labor Insider.

And check in here for periodic updates on the pending legislation in Philadelphia.

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