On April 15, 2024, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission issued its long-awaited final regulations and interpretative guidance on the implementation of the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act (PWFA). The EEOC states in its press release that the final rule is intended to offer “important clarity that will allow pregnant workers the ability to work and maintain... View Article
Through December and into the new calendar year, federal government leaders kept busy with Congressional hearings and markups, new legislation, and proposed and final rules focusing on issues that may be of significance to higher education HR professionals. CUPA-HR tracked several actions from both Congress and federal agencies on issues including paid family leave, short-term... View Article
On December 6, the Biden administration released the Fall 2023 Unified Agenda of Regulatory and Deregulatory Actions, providing the public with an update on the regulatory and deregulatory activities under development across approximately 67 federal departments, agencies and commissions. This release is the second and final regulatory agenda for 2023, and it sets target dates... View Article
On September 28, 2023, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) published new proposed guidance for employees and employers on navigating and preventing workplace harassment. “Enforced Guidance on Harassment in the Workplace” highlights and upholds existing federal employment discrimination laws and precedence, such as the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act (PWFA) and the Supreme Court’s Bostock... View Article
Over the past year, lawmakers have taken an increased interest in establishing and expanding upon benefits and protections for paid leave and pregnant workers. As a result, Congress passed two bills granting workplace protections to pregnant and nursing mothers at the end of 2022, while considering new federal proposals for paid family and medical leave.... View Article
On December 29, 2022, President Biden signed the $1.7 trillion Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2023 (omnibus bill) to fund the federal government through fiscal year 2023 (FY 2023). Given the “must-pass” nature of the bill, the omnibus bill also served as a vehicle for policy unrelated to government funding that was unlikely to pass as... View Article
Though August is typically a quiet time in Washington, D.C., legislative activity the first half of the month remained steady in preparation for a busy fall. To keep members updated on what to expect, the CUPA-HR government relations team pulled together the following summary of recent actions that will continue to take shape after Congress... View Article
Updated 5/17/21 On May 14, the House of Representatives voted (315-101) to pass H.R. 1065, the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act, which will require employers to make reasonable accommodations for qualified employees affected by pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions. The bill, which had amassed 228 cosponsors in the House (208 Democrats and 20 Republicans) ahead... View Article
On January 14, the House Education and Labor Committee held a markup and voted on H.R. 2694, the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act. The bill, introduced in May 2019 by Rep. Jerry Nadler (D-NY), would require employers with 15 or more employees to provide reasonable accommodations to pregnant workers, workers who just had a child, or... View Article
Members OnlyPregnancy discrimination involves treating an applicant or an employee unfavorably because of a pregnancy, the potential for pregnancy, childbirth or medical conditions related to pregnancy or childbirth. Discrimination is most often seen in an employer’s perception of the pregnant worker’s inability to work but in some cases, an employer may discriminate against an employee’s ability to work (such... View Article