The Biden administration Monday issued regulations enforcing worker protections for women who have had abortions, miscarriages or fertility issues that require time off work, despite heavy Republican opposition to the move.
The regulation from the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission implements congressional legislation that requires certain employers to offer reasonable accommodations to pregnant and postpartum employees. The rule clarifies that the commission includes abortion in its definition of “pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions” covered by the law.
The bill, known as the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act, was passed in 2022 as part of the fiscal 2023 appropriations law. The regulations are the final rules to carry out the law’s provisions.
