Posts

Washington: Healthy Start Act Requires Accommodation for Pregnant Employees, With or Without Disability

APPLIES TO

All Employers of 15+ WA Employees

EFFECTIVE

January 1, 2018

QUESTIONS?

Contact HR On-Call

(888) 378-2456

Washington State’s Healthy Starts Act (the “Act”) requires covered employers to provide pregnant employees with reasonable accommodations.  In contrast to federal and other state anti-discrimination laws, some accommodations must be provided regardless of disability or medical certification, and regardless of whether such accommodations may cause the employer undue hardship.

The Act applies to employers of 15 or more Washington employees.  Key provisions of the Act are summarized below.

Washington: Pregnant Employees Must be Accommodated Regardless of Disability

APPLIES TO

All Employers with WA Employees

EFFECTIVE

July 23, 2017

QUESTIONS?

Contact HR On-Call

(888) 378-2456

Washington’s Health Starts Act (the “Act”) imposes new obligations on employers with pregnant employees.  In a departure from the federal Americans with Disabilities Act (“ADA”), the Act requires employers to provide reasonable accommodations to pregnant employees regardless of whether or not the employee is disabled by their pregnancy.  The Act provides a list of reasonable accommodations employers may need to provide, and includes other important restrictions on medical certification and the “undue hardship” exemption.