Dear John,

Today, we reached a major milestone in our fight for pregnant workers:

The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) just published its final rule, making the promises of the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act a reality by putting employers and courts on notice about what the law requires.

That means pregnant workers don’t need to fear losing their jobs or health care simply because they need to sit on a stool, take additional bathroom breaks, or take time off to go to the doctor.

It’s a game-changing moment. But with assaults continuing by the day against our rights to live, work, and exist on equal terms, we need your help to build on this success.

Make a donation to the National Women’s Law Center to continue fighting for gender justice for all.

I’ve been at the table of advocates and champions pushing for this groundbreaking gender justice legislation since those earliest drafting conversations in 2012. And I can tell you this: your support allowed us to keep pushing even in the face of tough opposition.

What you may not know is that before this legislation, we saw examples of pregnant workers continuing to work without needed accommodations—sometimes with tragic results. The EEOC’s final rule will help ensure that workers receive reasonable accommodations to address a range of health care needs, from miscarriage to fertility treatments to abortion care. The final rule also makes clear there is no blanket exemption for religious employers from the obligation to provide these accommodations. 

Today is a day you and other advocates should take a moment to celebrate, because this kind of success doesn’t come often or easily.

So thank you for the thousands of messages you sent to Congress to urge passage of this law and the thousands of comments you sent to the EEOC to ensure this final rule was as strong as possible. 

We’re so proud to be part of this fight. I hope you’ll consider amplifying your success by making a donation to the National Women’s Law Center today. 

In solidarity,

Emily Martin
she/her
Chief Program Officer
National Women's Law Center