Pregnancy and Employment: Know Your Legal Obligations

K-12 schools, colleges, and universities are subject to numerous legal requirements regarding treatment of pregnant employees or those with related medical conditions. This report highlights the major federal laws addressing pregnancy.

• Review your employee handbooks and other documents related to pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions and update them as needed.
• Pay special attention to the newest, highly prescriptive laws in this area — the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act (PWFA) and the PUMP for Nursing Mothers Act (PUMP Act) — and train supervisors on the PWFA, which requires them to make many accommodation decisions without consulting HR.
• Your state and local laws may impose additional requirements.