August 15th is Mom’s Equal Pay Day. On this day, we recognize the wage gap for working mothers and look towards structural solutions to guarantee pay equity once and for all. This year, we’ve seen two great strides towards ensuring working moms are supported on the job and can remain attached to their paychecks; the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act and PUMP for Nursing Mothers Act, two new federal laws extending the right to workplace accommodations to pregnant, postpartum and lactating workers nationwide, are now in effect!
For too long, pregnancy discrimination has marked the beginning of long-term pay inequity for countless working moms, particularly moms of color working in low-wage physically demanding jobs. Now, new and expectant mothers across the country – particularly young mothers, who often work in low-wage, part-time, seasonal and hourly positions where the need for accommodations is especially urgent – have two new laws on their side with an affirmative right to the workplace accommodations they need to stay safe, healthy, and attached to their paychecks and the right to break time and space to express milk. We are committed to educating mothers, families, and communities about these critical new protections, so that pregnant, postpartum and lactating workers feel equipped to exercise their rights.
The passage of the PWFA and PUMP Act are heartening steps forward in addressing the maternal wage gap. More work remains to be done towards making workplaces more equitable for working moms. The U.S. still lacks a nationwide right to paid family and medical leave and paid sick time. These supportive policies would be a lifeline for millions of mothers nationwide balancing work with their health and caregiving needs. We hope you will join us in spreading the word about these new protections, so that working moms in your community are empowered to exercise their rights to the accommodations they need to stay safe, healthy, and attached to their paychecks.
