“South Carolina Pregnancy Accommodations Act” heads to the House
Mar 29, 2017
(Columbia, SC) The South Carolina Pregnancy Accommodations Act (H. 3865) heads to the House floor, after garnering the unanimous approval of the House Judiciary Committee Tuesday afternoon.
The bill, which has strong bi-partisan support, ensures pregnant women and new mothers have access to reasonable workplace accommodations – like carrying a water bottle or sitting on a stool rather than standing.
Advocates of the bill say South Carolina’s lack of clear protections leave employers susceptible to lawsuits, and pregnant employees and new mothers vulnerable to workplace discrimination when modest accommodations are needed.
“Outlining a simple, easy to apply legal standard will provide both employees and employers with needed clarity,” said Ann Warner, CEO of the Women’s Rights and Empowerment Network (WREN). “Further, South Carolina’s families and businesses will benefit from the legislation because it allows pregnant women and new mothers to continue contributing to the economy, as well as providing the vital support their families need.”
Today, women make up nearly half of the U.S. workforce and are the primary or co-breadwinner in nearly two-thirds of families. Nearly 85 percent of women will become mothers at some point in their working lives. And in South Carolina, 64 percent of women who gave birth in the last year were employed.
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