Today the Equal Employment Opportunity Commision (EEOC) released their much anticipated regulations implementing the Pregnant Worker Fairness Act (PWFA). The Center for WorkLife Law applauds the EEOC for providing a strong interpretation of the law that both protects millions of workers and provides clear guidance for employers.

A recent KFF Health News article reported that private health insurers have delayed the availability of a revolutionary postpartum depression treatment. Our senior staff attorney Juliana Franco’s letter to the editor in response was published this week. In it, Juliana explains how mental health care providers can use the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act as a tool to support their patients who need time off for appointments or other changes at work. Juliana also shared about her own experience with postpartum depression.

As WorkLife Law’s founding director Joan Williams recently announced, she is passing the baton to the next generation of WorkLife Law leaders this summer. Incoming Co-Directors Jessica Lee and Liz Morris are excited to step into their new roles leading the Center in our fight for economic security, racial justice, and health equity for workers, students, and the families they care for. Click here to read their message introducing themselves and sharing their vision for WorkLife Law’s future.

Twenty-five years after founding the Center for WorkLife Law, Director Joan C. Williams is passing to the next generation the leadership of the Cener’s work advancing legal protections for caregiving workers and students. This summer, Liz Morris, the Center’s Deputy Director, and Jessica Lee, its Senior Staff Attorney, will become co-directors of the Center for WorkLife Law. Joan will start her own next chapter as the founding director of the Equality Action Center at UC Law SF, along with SVP Jamie Dolkas and Research Director Rachel Korn. Click here to read Joan’s letter announcing the big news and celebrating that we now have two organizations focused on moving us to a world without inequalities based on race, class and gender. 

Today the Senate Budget Committee held a hearing on the ways in which restricting access to abortion undermines women’s economic security. WorkLife Law is proud to stand with partners in submitting written testimony calling on the U.S. Senate to name publicly that abortion access is fundamental to economic justice, well-being, and equality.

A research report published this month found that our perinatal promotora training made an impact and highlighted the need for more trainings aimed at community health workers in farmworker communities. Back in 2023, WorkLife Law piloted a comprehensive training program in partnership with the Santa Barbara County Promotores Network, CAUSE, WIC, and the UC Global Health Institute. Now, there is evidence that California communities need more of these trainings to create long lasting change for pregnant farmworkers.

WorkLife Law’s free legal helplines were ringing off the hook in 2023. We received more calls from caregivers, pregnant workers, and students than ever before in our history – a 400% increase. Thanks to the triumphant passage of the PUMP Act and the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act, we have new, dramatically stronger tools at our disposal to protect workers’ health and livelihoods.  We’ve been getting results for workers nationwide and are committed to supporting more people in the upcoming year. 

Today WorkLife Law submitted comments to the U.S. Department of Labor on the agency’s proposed rule expanding overtime protections to millions of workers. Our comments elevated the experiences of family caregivers, who are often required to work long hours that take them away from their family obligations without any additional compensation. 

The Center for WorkLife Law is celebrating the appointment of Sequoia Ayala as a Reproductive Justice Legal Fellow. Sequoia will work to assist birthing persons facing discrimination in the workplace, as well as conduct research on employment discrimination based on pregnancy, lactation, childbirth, and parenthood nationwide for the Center.

Today the Center for WorkLife Law filed comments with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) offering feedback on its proposed regulations implementing the Pregnant Worker Fairness Act. While the law is already robust, our priority is advocating for the strongest interpretation of the law to protect workers, but especially historically excluded communities, who need accommodations to stay healthy during pregnancy, childbirth, or if they have related medical conditions.