ACLU Supporter –

The ACLU has represented many pregnant people who have faced a terrible choice: Follow doctors' orders or lose their paychecks – and maybe even their jobs.

Katia Hills, for example, was fired from her job as a retail salesperson for accumulating too many "points" under her employer's attendance policy due to morning sickness, prenatal appointments, and ER visits. Meanwhile, co-workers' absences due to jury duty and other reasons were "excused" and spared points:

"Though my male co-workers were allowed to come and go virtually without penalty, I kept racking up points due to my pregnancy. Once, I started bleeding and had to be hospitalized overnight. I accrued a point for that too." – Katia

Unfortunately, Katia is not alone in this experience. Congress may have outlawed pregnancy discrimination in 1978, but far too many pregnant employees are still denied temporary accommodations like schedule changes – with severe consequences to their health and financial security.

I'm sharing all of this with you today because there's an action you can take to help: The bipartisan Pregnant Workers Fairness Act (PWFA) prohibits this type of discrimination by requiring employers to provide reasonable, temporary accommodations for pregnant workers. And you can urge your senators to pass this crucial bill right now.

ACLU Supporter, PWFA has never been so close to becoming law – in large part, thanks to the sustained activism that ACLU community members like you have pushed forward for months and years.

The House passed the bill earlier this year and the Senate HELP Committee endorsed it this summer. Now, we're waiting for the full Senate to pass it. That's why we must keep speaking up about it and make sure it stays on their radar.

For people like Katia and anyone facing discrimination at work due to pregnancy: Send a message to your senators now. We shouldn't have to wait any longer.

Thanks for taking action,

Vania Leveille
Pronouns: She, her, hers
Senior Legislative Counsel, ACLU