The Pregnant Workers Fairness Act (PWFA)
The EEOC says employers must make reasonable accommodations for known limitations related to pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions, unless an accommodation would cause undue hardship.[1]
It says an employer cannot force you to take leave if another accommodation would work, and cannot retaliate against you.[1]
It says the law took effect on June 27, 2023, and its final rule took effect on June 18, 2024.[1]
The Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA)
The US Department of Labor says the FMLA gives eligible workers up to 12 workweeks of unpaid, job-protected leave in a 12-month period.[2]
It lists these conditions to be eligible:[2]
- 12 months with the employer;[2]
- 1,250 hours worked;[2]
- a worksite with 50 or more employees within 75 miles.[2]
It says the leave covers the birth of a child and bonding with the newborn within one year of birth.[2]
Exposures at work
ACOG suggests asking your provider about exposures at work, such as lead, mercury, pesticides, solvents and radiation.[3]
Read the official pages
Questions families ask
Does the PWFA apply to my job?
The EEOC says it covers employers with 15 or more employees.[1]
How much leave does the FMLA give?
The US Department of Labor says up to 12 workweeks of unpaid, job-protected leave in a 12-month period, for eligible workers.[2]
Free from UpOnly Learning. Written for families of every faith. No outside ads and no affiliate links. Every fact on this page comes from the sources listed below. How we source and review these pages
Updated 2026-10-24: first published.
Sources
All sources were opened and checked on the date shown.
- US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. What You Should Know About the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act. Checked October 24, 2026.
- US Department of Labor, Wage and Hour Division. Family and Medical Leave Act. Checked October 24, 2026.
- American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. Good Health Before Pregnancy: Prepregnancy Care. Checked October 24, 2026.