Pregnant workers would get new protections under proposed rules

Pregnant workers or those who recently gave birth would be entitled to new on-the-job accommodations — including longer, more frequent breaks, schedule changes, teleworking privileges and temporary job restructuring — under new employee protections proposed by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission on Monday.

The proposal would set baseline terms for the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act, new civil rights legislation signed into law in December, and prohibit employers from denying opportunities to workers or job applicants because of medical conditions caused by pregnancy or childbirth.