Pregnant Workers Fairness Act goes into effect
The Pregnant Workers Fairness Act (PWFA), which President Biden signed on December 29, 2022, requires companies with at least 15 employees to provide reasonable accommodations to a worker’s limitations related to pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions. The new law builds upon existing protections against pregnancy discrimination under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act and went into effect on June 27.
The PWFA works together with the new PUMP for Nursing Mothers Act (PUMP Act), which expanded the universe of workers who have the right to break time and a private space to express breast milk at work.
Resources:
- View our updated Nursing Employees Workplace Protections flyer (PDF)
- View the Readout of the White House Celebration of the PWFA and the PUMP Act
- Learn What to Expect from Your Employer When You’re Expecting
First Lady talks support services in Pittsburgh
First Lady Jill Biden, along with Acting Secretary of Labor Julie Su and Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg, traveled to Pittsburgh, Penn. in July to visit the Pittsburgh Terminal Modernization Program, an airport revitalization project partially funded by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. Dr. Biden said of an on-site child care facility that helps workers on the project pursue and retain jobs: “That really is revolutionary. [Workers] can pursue the careers they want without having to worry about finding care for their kids.”
Dr. Biden also met with participants in PIT 2 Work, a pre-apprenticeship training program that provides construction job training, a stipend, and free child care and public transit to participants. Wraparound support services such as these have been shown to be highly effective at improving gender equity in construction projects.
Continuation of Medicaid and CHIP coverage
During the height of #COVID19, many people were automatically enrolled in Medicaid. Now, things are changing – but how exactly they’re changing depends on the state where you live. If you serve individuals who may use Medicaid (or if you use the program yourself), it’s critical to make sure program participants’ state Medicaid offices have current address information and that participants respond to any letters they get from those offices. Learn more: English (PDF) | Spanish (PDF).
If you or people you know have already lost Medicaid or CHIP coverage, you may qualify for a special enrollment period at HealthCare.gov to enroll in a health plan. You may also be able to receive financial help to lower monthly costs. Learn more about the options: English (PDF) | Spanish (PDF).
Please share these resources with your communities!
Disability Pride Month
July is Disability Pride Month. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, 21 percent of women with disabilities and 25.5 percent of men with disabilities are in the labor force.
The same policies that help women stay in the labor force – such as paid sick days, flexible scheduling and accessible and affordable child care – can also help people with disabilities obtain and keep good quality jobs.
Department of Labor resources:
- The Americans with Disabilities Act
- FMLA: Providing Flexibility for Changing Needs, Then and Now
- The Department of Labor’s Office of Disability Employment Policy
- Disability employment statistics
Graphic of the month:
A new historic high for labor force participation rate for prime working-age women.
OSHA proposes new rule on PPE fit in construction
Personal protective equipment (PPE) is only effective if it fits a worker’s body. But studies have shown that many women in construction are provided with ill-fitting PPE, which can hamper their work or even expose them to hazards. That’s why the Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has issued a notice of proposed rulemaking to revise the current PPE standard in construction – and they’re seeking comments before they finalize the rule.
In Case You Missed It
The Menopause Transition and Work
In June, the Women’s Bureau held a roundtable on the menopause transition and work with a panel of experts including Dr. Jen Gunter, Dr. Stephanie Faubion of the Mayo Clinic and representatives from AARP. Participants learned about steps that policymakers and employers can take to support people experiencing menopause symptoms.
Seventh Hemispheric Dialogue on Gender among Ministries of Labor
This month, the Women’s Bureau represented the United States at the 7th Hemispheric Dialogue on Gender among Ministries of Labor hosted by the Organization of American States’ Inter-American Network for Labor Administration (RIAL). Women’s Bureau policy analysts presented on occupational segregation and strategies for recruiting and retaining women in apprenticeships and nontraditional occupations.
Upcoming Events
Menstrual equity webinar
On August 2 at 3:00 PM ET, join the Women’s Bureau for a virtual roundtable to discuss menstrual equity and why it’s a relevant conversation for the workplace. Panelists will outline accommodations employers can provide to support workers who menstruate and how these overlap with the other phases in employees’ lives.
Panelists will include:
- Jennifer Weiss-Wolf, Executive Director of NYU Law’s Birnbaum Women’s Leadership Network
- Marcy L. Karin, Professor and Director, Legislation/Civil Rights Clinic, University of the District of Columbia David A. Clarke School of Law
- Sasha Goodfriend, President of Mass NOW
- Vanessa Carman, President of the SMART Union Women’s Committee
Retirement planning for women
On August 16 at 2:00 PM ET, join the Department of Labor’s Employee Benefits Security Administration and Women’s Bureau, the Social Security Administration, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau for information on key issues for women in planning for retirement. The webinar will discuss:
- Challenges and circumstances women face and why it is important to plan ahead.
- Making the most of your employer-provided retirement plan and checking if your retirement savings are on track.
- Social Security and Medicare benefits including factors to consider in deciding when to sign up for Medicare and when to begin receiving Social Security benefits and what they cover.
- How to avoid financial abuse, frauds and scams.
WB in the News
- VT Digger: A new approach to end gender-based violence and harassment at work
- Utah Business: Inside Utah’s outsized child care problem
- WUSA9: Is childcare more expensive in Washington D.C. than anywhere else in U.S.?
We Want to Hear from You!
“Occupational segregation” is the gendered sorting of men and women into different types of jobs. It leads to women being overrepresented in certain jobs, which are valued and compensated less than male-dominated jobs.
We’ve heard from many working women about their experiences with gendered job expectations, the challenges they face at work, the support systems that help them thrive and the policy changes that would help them succeed. We'd like to hear from you.
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The Women’s Bureau has championed the rights of working women and served as a convener of conversations critical to an equitable economy for women for more than 100 years.
Follow us at @WB_DOL to learn more about the latest research, initiatives, policies and updates related to working women and their families.