On April 13, 2015, the governor of Nebraska signed a bill (L 627) relating to pregnancy under the Nebraska Fair Employment Practice Act. Beginning September, employers with 15 employees or more will be required to offer their employees reasonable accommodations with respect to pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions. Reasonable accommodations may include “more frequent or longer breaks, periodic rest, assistance with manual labor, job restructuring, light-duty assignments, modified work schedules, temporary transfers to less strenuous or hazardous work, time off to recover from childbirth, or break time and appropriate facilities for breast-feeding or expressing breast milk.”
Under the new law, employers are prohibited from discriminating against a pregnant employee or an individual who has given birth or has a related medical condition. It will also be unlawful to require an employee to take a leave under any leave law or policy if another reasonable accommodation can be made. Similarly, employers may not take adverse action against an employee for requesting or using a reasonable accommodation related to the pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions. Covered employers must make sure to review the new amendments to the Nebraska Fair Employment Practice Act to stay compliant.