Before leaving office, Governor Chris Christie signed several bills into laws. One of these enacted bills, AB 2294, amends the New Jersey Law Against Discrimination to ban discrimination against breastfeeding employees. Employers cannot refuse to hire, discharge, or discriminate against a breastfeeding employee in compensation and other terms, conditions or privileges of employment. Employers are Read more
The Connecticut Department of Labor has released a new mandatory workplace poster for employers. During the 2017 legislative session, Governor Dannel Malloy signed H.B. 6668, enhancing existing anti-discrimination protections for pregnant employees. Under the law, which goes into effect October 1, 2017, an employer with more than three employees must provide accommodations for an employee Read more
Benefits of Providing Lactation Accommodation in the Workplace It is well-established that breastfeeding promotes the health and well-being of working mothers and their babies. Breastfed babies and their mothers have reduced risks for many illnesses and diseases. Healthier babies and moms mean a lower health care burden on the national economy. In fact, one study Read more
The state of Connecticut has passed a new law that will require employers to provide reasonable accommodations for an employee or job applicant related to pregnancy, childbirth, or a related condition. Reasonable accommodations for pregnant employees can include: sitting while working, frequent or longer breaks, periodic rest, assistance with manual labor, job restructuring, light duty Read more
The Ontario Human Rights Commission has clarified the type and scope of medical information that needs to be provided when a disability-related accommodation request is made. The Commission noticed that many individuals were unable to receive appropriate accommodations due to ambiguous medical notes. Employers had a hard time determining the appropriate accommodations. There were also Read more
A Florida Federal Court may soon decide whether an emotional support animal may be a required reasonable accommodation in the workplace. On March 2, 2017, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) filed a disability discrimination lawsuit against CRST Expedited Inc., a national trucking company. The EEOC claims that CRST failed to accommodate, refused to hire Read more
The Michigan Department of Civil Rights (MDCR) has released a revised “Michigan Law Prohibits Discrimination” posting. The revised posting includes new information for individuals with a disability. An individual with a disability needing accommodations must advise his or her employer in writing within 182 days of the need for accommodations. This new time limit comes Read more
On March 28, 2016, Utah Governor Gary Herbert signed S.B. 59, providing workplace accommodations to employees due to pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, or related conditions. Employers with 15 or more employees are required to provide accommodations unless these impose an undue hardship. That is, the accommodation requires “significant difficulty or expense when considered in relation to Read more
Beginning August 10, 2016, Colorado joins a growing list of states that protect employees and applicants for employment with conditions related to pregnancy, childbirth and related health conditions. Specifically, Colorado’s new pregnancy anti-discrimination law requires employers to provide reasonable accommodations to pregnant applicants, employees and new moms, if requested. Under the law, employers are prohibited from: Read more
Pregnant employees in West Virginia may find it easier to perform their jobs. West Virginia has enacted the Pregnant Workers’ Fairness Act (PWFA) prohibiting discrimination in employment based on pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions. The law also requires employers to make reasonable accommodations for limitations related to pregnancy and childbirth. Although not defined in Read more
