Inspired by an A Better Balance Op-Ed in The New York Times, Congress first introduced the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act (PWFA) in 2012. In the following decade, A Better Balance led the campaign to pass the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act into law in 2022.
The PWFA ensures pregnant workers will not be fired unnecessarily or denied reasonable job modifications that will keep them working while maintaining a healthy pregnancy. This law makes it clear that all pregnant workers in this country are entitled to reasonable job accommodations. In September 2020, the House of Representatives (led by sponsors Rep. Nadler and Rep. Katko) passed the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act in an overwhelmingly bipartisan vote under the leadership of Speaker Pelosi. In 2021, the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act was re-introduced and passed in the House of Representatives again in another overwhelmingly bipartisan vote (315-101), and was introduced in the Senate (sponsored by leads Sen. Casey and Sen. Cassidy), where it passed in December 2022 as part of the omnibus spending package. A Better Balance testified before Congress at the PWFA’s first ever hearing in 2019, and again in 2021. See below for comprehensive resources on the legislation.
Resources on the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act
Fact Sheets:
- The Pregnant Workers Fairness Act: What You Should Know
- Fact Sheet: The Pregnant Workers Fairness Act
- Fact Sheet: The Pregnant Workers Fairness Act Legal Backgrounder
- Fact Sheet: Bill Explainer — The Pregnant Workers Fairness Act
- FAQs: The Pregnant Workers Fairness Act
- (Video) The Pregnant Workers Fairness Act Is Long Overdue: Explainer
- Fact sheet: Why Pregnant Workers Fairness Laws are Good for Business
- Fact Sheet: Fairness for Pregnant Workers After Young v. UPS
- Fact Sheet: Ensuring Safe & Healthy Pregnancies in the Workplace
- Congressional resources: Final text of the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act and House Education & Labor Committee Report on PWFA
Pregnant Workers’ Leadership:
- The Women Who Inspired the Movement for the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act
- The Case for the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act, In Stories
- (Video) Lyndi Trischler’s Story
- (Video) Armanda Legros’ Story
- Op-Ed in Ms. Magazine by ABB Community Advocate Takirah Woods: Accommodating Pregnant Workers is a Matter of Reproductive, Economic and Racial Justice
- (Video) Pregnant Workers Share Stories of Horrific Discrimination & Call on Congress to Act
- Op-Ed in The Hill by ABB Community Advocate Tasha Murrell: A paycheck or a healthy pregnancy? We shouldn’t have to choose
- Op-Ed in the Cincinnati Enquirer by ABB Community Advocate Lyndi Trischler: Put a stop to pregnancy discrimination in nontraditional jobs
- Op-Ed in the New York Daily News by ABB Community Advocate Armanda Legros: Protect pregnant workers, finally
- Op-Ed in Ms. Magazine by ABB Community Advocate Denizer Carter: The Senate Must Prioritize Pregnant Workers and Moms Like Me During the Lame-Duck Session
Know-Your-Rights Resources:
- Pregnant and Postpartum Workers: Know Your Rights!
- Sample Letters to Give to Your Employer About the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act
- ¿Embarazada? ¿Acaba de dar a luz? ¿Extrayendo leche? ¡Conozca sus derechos en el lugar de trabajo!
- Ejemplos de cartas para darle a su empleador sobre la Ley de Equidad para trabajadoras embarazadas
ABB Reports:
- Report: Centering the Experiences of Black Mamas in the Workplace: How The Pregnant Workers Fairness Act Can Support Black Maternal Health (2022)
- Report: From Statehouses to Congress – Paving the Way for the Federal Pregnant Workers Fairness Act (February 2022)
- Report: Long Overdue: It Is Time for the Federal Pregnant Workers Fairness Act (May 2019)
- Report: Long Overdue: June 2021 Update
- Report: Pregnant and Jobless: Thirty-Seven Years After Pregnancy Discrimination Act, Pregnant Women Still Choose Between A Paycheck and A Healthy Pregnancy
- Report: It Shouldn’t Be A Heavy Lift: Fair Treatment for Pregnant Workers
- Webinar: Fair Treatment for Pregnant Workers: Training for Advocates & Policy Makers
- Powerpoint presentation: Businesses for Treating Pregnant Workers Fairly
Congressional Testimony:
- Oral Testimony in Support of Pregnant Workers Fairness Act and PUMP Act at “Fighting for Fairness” Congressional Hearing, by ABB Co-President Dina Bakst (2021)
- Written Testimony in Support of Pregnant Workers Fairness Act and PUMP Act for “Fighting for Fairness” Congressional Hearing, by ABB Co-President Dina Bakst (2021)
- Oral Testimony in Support of the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act for “Long Over Due” Congressional Hearing, by ABB Co-President Dina Bakst (2019)
- Written Testimony in Support of the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act for “Long Over Due” Congressional Hearing, by ABB Co-President Dina Bakst (2019)
- Armanda Legros Testimony Before the U.S. Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor & Pensions (written) (2014)
Organizational Letters of Support:
For a full list of letters from the advocacy community, see here.
Letters of Support during the 117th Congress (2021 – 2022)
- Letter: 100+ Organizations Urge Sen. Schumer to Prioritize Pregnant Workers Fairness Act During Lame-Duck (2022)
- Letter from 110+ Organizations Urging Senator Schumer to Bring the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act to a Vote (2022)
- Letter to Senator Schumer Urging Floor Vote on the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act (2022)
- Letter from New York Faith Leaders Urging Senator Schumer to Pass the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act Now (2022)
- Organizational Sign-On Letter to Prioritize PWFA in Omnibus Spending Bill (2022)
- Letter: Senator Schumer Must Ensure the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act Passes Without Delay (2022)
- Letter: Black Mamas Matter Alliance & A Better Balance Urge Senate to Prioritize Black Maternal Health & Pass the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act (2022)
- Letter of Support for the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act (2021)
- Letter: New York Labor and Workers’ Rights Groups Urge Sen. Schumer to Deliver Vote on Pregnant Workers Fairness Act (2021)
- Business Coalition Letter to the House of Representatives in Support of the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act (2021)
- Letter From the Consortium of Citizens with Disabilities in Support of the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act (2021)
- Letter from Maternal Health Equity Organizations in Support of the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act (2021)
- Letter from Faith Groups in Support of the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act (2021)
- Letter Urging a Vote on the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act for Mother’s Day (2021)
- A Better Balance Pregnant Workers Fairness Act House Vote Recommendation (2021)
Letters of Support during the 116th Congress (2019 – 2020):
- 200+ Organizations Support the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act (2020)
- Letter of support from Black Mamas Matter Alliance & organizations dedicated to supporting Black maternal health and ending racial injustice
- Letter of support from the Consortium for Citizens with Disabilities Rights Task Force
- Letter of support from maternal health providers
- Letter of support from religious and faith-based organizations
Op-Eds:
- Op-Ed (N.Y. Times): Pregnant, and Pushed Out of a Job (by Dina Bakst)
- Op-Ed (U.S. News): Peggy Young’s Victory Is Not Enough (by Dina Bakst)
- Op-Ed (The Hill): Congress Should Help Pregnant Workers Stay Healthy and On the Job
- Op-Ed (Washington Post): This Is No Way To Treat Pregnant Workers (By Dina Bakst)
- Op-Ed (The Hill): Schumer must stand up for pregnant women before the lame duck ends (by Dina Bakst)
Business Support:
- U.S. Chamber of Commerce Supports the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act
- Society for Human Resources Management Supports the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act
- U.S. Women’s Chamber of Commerce letter of support
- Cynthia DiBartolo, Chairperson of the Greater New York Chamber of Commerce and CEO of Tigress Financial Partners LLC, letter of support of the PWFA
- Support from two South Carolina business publications, the Upstate Business Journal and Propel HR, after the passage of a pregnant workers fairness law in that state.
- Support from Davis Chamber of Commerce for state pregnant workers fairness legislation in Utah
- Support from Associated Industries of Massachusetts, a business association with 4,000 employer members, for state-level pregnant workers fairness legislation
