Planned Parenthood Applauds EEOC’s Plan to Protect Pregnant Workers

WASHINGTON, DC — Yesterday, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) finalized its regulation and implementation strategy for the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act (PWFA), which was passed by Congress and signed into law by President Biden in 2022 after nearly a decade of advocacy.

The PWFA is a crucial step toward protecting pregnant people from workplace discrimination. The final rule requires employers to provide reasonable accommodations for pregnancy or childbirth-related medical conditions.

The final rule explicitly lists abortion among examples of medical conditions related to pregnancy — including infertility treatments and contraception — that are protected from discrimination. Additionally, the rule protects the privacy of workers seeking an accommodation, and makes it clear that pregnant workers do not need to disclose confidential medical information to obtain an accommodation.

Since the Dobbs decision, which ended the federal constitutional right to abortion, these PWFA protections are important for patients who need to travel for out-of-state abortion care; none of the 21 states that ban abortion guarantee paid medical leave, and few have raised the minimum wage.

Quote attributable to Alexis McGill Johnson, president and CEO of Planned Parenthood Federation of America:

“No employer should come between a worker and their ability to access health care or reasonable workplace accommodations — especially when pregnant. As we continue to navigate the onslaught of attacks on sexual and reproductive health, people must be able to get the care they need when they need — and should not have to fear losing their job to do so. This is a major step toward increasing workplace protections for pregnant people and workers who seek abortions. We applaud the EEOC and Biden administration for its commitment to seeing this through.”

Planned Parenthood Federation of America submitted a public comment letter in support of this rule and helped generate more than 25,000 supporter comments.  

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Planned Parenthood is the nation’s leading provider and advocate of high-quality, affordable sexual and reproductive health care for all people, as well as the nation’s largest provider of sex education. With more than 600 health centers across the country, Planned Parenthood organizations serve all patients with care and compassion, with respect, and without judgment, striving to create equitable access to health care. Through health centers, programs in schools and communities, and online resources, Planned Parenthood is a trusted source of reliable education and information that allows people to make informed health decisions. We do all this because we care passionately about helping people lead healthier lives. Planned Parenthood Federation of America (PPFA) is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization that supports the independently incorporated Planned Parenthood affiliates operating health centers across the U.S.