Employee Manual 2025 - Flipbook - Page 65
reasonably needed by the nursing mother.
The City will provide a place that is functional as a space for expressing milk (other than a
bathroom). While the City will not create a dedicated space for nursing mothers to use, a space
will be available when needed which is shielded from view, and free from any intrusion from coworkers and the public. Generally, such break periods are part of the normal work day.
If, following delivery, an employee has the need for breaks/space for expressing milk, employees
should contact their manager or the human resources director.
PREGNANT WORKERS FAIRNESS ACT (PWFA)
The Pregnant Workers Fairness Act (“PWFA” or “Act”) requires “covered employers” to provide
“reasonable accommodations” to a worker’s known limitations related to pregnancy, childbirth,
or related medical conditions, unless the accommodation will cause the employer an “undue
hardship.” The Act applies only to accommodations, and does not replace federal, state, or local
laws that provide greater protections to workers affected by pregnancy, childbirth, or related
medical conditions. The PWFA went into effect on June 27, 2023.
The PWFA applies only to “covered employers” which is defined as private and public sector
employers with at least 15 employees, Congress, Federal agencies, employment agencies, and
labor organizations. The Act requires such employers to provide “reasonable accommodations”
to a worker’s known limitations related to pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions.
Reasonable accommodations are changes to the work environment or the way things are usually
done at work. When determining possible reasonable accommodations, employers may consider:
• The ability to sit and drink water;
• Closer parking;
• Flexible hours;
• Appropriately sized uniforms and safety apparel;
• Additional break time to use the bathroom, eat, and rest;
• Leave or time off to recover from childbirth; and
• Reassignment from strenuous activities and/or activities that involve exposure to
compounds not safe for pregnancy.
Covered employers are required to provide reasonable accommodations unless the employer
can demonstrate that the accommodation would cause an “undue hardship” on the employer’s
operations. To determine whether an action would cause an undue hardship, an employer may
consider its size, financial resources, nature, and structure of its business.
City of Plymouth Employee manual - Page 65 – May 2025
