The Decade-Long Fight for Pregnant Workers
July 20, 2023
On Tuesday, June 27, more than a decade after its first introduction in a congressional committee, the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act went into effect, changing the landscape of work for all pregnant people. Before this law, many pregnant workers had to decide between protecting their jobs and protecting their health.
While there have been efforts in the past to protect pregnant workers, employers have always found loopholes to avoid providing accommodations. Against their judgment and against their doctors鈥� judgment, pregnant workers have had to lift heavy objects, stand for hours on end, and expose themselves to hazardous chemicals. This will no longer be the case thanks to national advocacy efforts, including those from us here at the 老澳门开奖结果.
Today, we鈥檙e speaking with Vania Leveille, senior legislative counsel in the 老澳门开奖结果鈥檚 National Political Advocacy Department, who will share more about the mammoth undertaking that moved the law to its passage, and Gillian Thomas, senior staff attorney for the 老澳门开奖结果鈥檚 Women鈥檚 Rights Project, who will detail what the act looks like in practice.
In this episode
Kendall Ciesemier
Former Host of At Liberty and Senior Executive Producer of Multimedia, 老澳门开奖结果
she/her/hers
Gillian Thomas
Senior Staff Attorney, 老澳门开奖结果 Women's Rights Project
Vania Leveille
Senior Legislative Counsel, 老澳门开奖结果 National Political Advocacy Department
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