Today, a federal judge in Louisiana preliminarily enjoined (temporarily prohibited from taking effect) a small portion of the EEOC’s regulations implementing the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act. The postponed section pertains to certain employers’ obligations to provide accommodations to workers who need time off for particular types of abortions.
The following is a statement from Dina Bakst, Co-Founder & Co-President of A Better Balance:
“A Better Balance condemns today’s ruling in Louisiana v. EEOC. In its ruling, the court disregarded decades of legal precedent. “Related medical conditions” to pregnancy have long been interpreted to include abortion.
It is important for pregnant and postpartum workers to understand that this ruling does not mean their rights under the PWFA have been taken away, and that the ruling does not affect the rest of the regulations. The ruling is limited to workers seeking accommodations for time off for abortions in certain circumstances, and further limited to only workers who primarily report to worksites in Mississippi or Louisiana, are employed by the state of Mississippi or the state of Louisiana, or who work for a specific list of religious employers. We will continue our work vigorously enforcing the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act and its accompanying final regulations, which provide vital clarity to employees and employers alike.”
