WASHINGTON, DC — Some Utah moms are pushing for a fairness bill in Congress to give pregnant workers more federal protections.

The Fairness for Pregnant Workers Act “prohibits employment practices that discriminate against making reasonable accommodations for qualified employees affected by pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions.”

Under current federal laws, a pregnant woman cannot be fired for being pregnant. But more protections are needed for workers while pregnant said Bountiful mom and advocate Heather Dopp.

“You don’t have the right to go on ‘light duty’ so-to-speak if you’re a high-risk pregnancy,” said Dopp. “Or say you’re a cashier at a grocery store, you don’t have protections to say — provide you a chair.”

Current employment laws prohibit termination if an employee becomes pregnant. The law does not, however, ensure that pregnant and postpartum employees are allowed appropriate accommodations such as sitting breaks, weight lift limits, access to frequent bathroom breaks, etc (4)

— Heather 🌌 (@hmdoppelganger) September 24, 2022

Dopp is one of Utah’s delegates for Mom Congress — a nationwide group of mothers who advocate for different policies to benefit moms and families.

She says the bill is being held up by a group of GOP lawmakers.

But there was pushback from some mbrs of the House GOP. Rep Virginia Foxx insisted that the bill include religious exemptions for employers.
What does this mean?
This would make it legal for an employer to discriminate against an unwed, transgender, or lgbtq pregnant person. (6)

— Heather 🌌 (@hmdoppelganger) September 24, 2022

“In the House there is a proposal to do a religious exemption,” said Dopp, who recently returned from a trip to Washington D.C. to push for this legislation.

“So you can kind of discriminate who you provide that care for based on, maybe, religious preference or if they’re in an LGBTQ relationship.”

How Utah Senators are reacting to the Fairness for Pregnant Workers Act

Sen. Romney is a co-sponsor of the bill. All of Utah’s House delegation voted to support it. Dopp refers to Sen. Lee as one of the group’s “biggest roadblocks,” but this has not been independently verified.

KSL NewsRadio reached out to Sen. Lee’s office and received no response as of Monday. Sen. Romney’s office said Utah’s junior senator couldn’t comment because the senate is out for the Rosh Hashana holiday.

Other reading:

• U.S. Dept. of Education rules SLCC violated rights of pregnant student
• U of U study focuses on pregnant women and COVID-19
• Utah bill would make Dad pay half of pregnant Mom’s medical costs

 

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