A coalition of Republican attorneys general from 17 states has taken legal action against the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) over a new rule related to abortion accommodations under the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act. The rule, which was finalized in mid-April, requires most employers to provide 'reasonable accommodations' to workers in relation to pregnancy or childbirth, including time off for an abortion. It's important to note that the rule does not mandate employers to pay for abortions or provide paid time off for the procedure.
In response to the EEOC's rule, the attorney general of Tennessee, Jonathan Skrmetti, stated that the agency's attempt to reinterpret the bipartisan Pregnant Workers Fairness Act as an abortion mandate is illegal. The coalition of attorneys general argues that the EEOC is overstepping its authority by requiring employers to accommodate elective abortions, which they believe goes beyond the scope of the original Act.
