As temperatures rise, workers across the country are increasingly vulnerable to unsafe conditions on the job.
Heat is especially dangerous during pregnancy; pregnant people overheat and dehydrate faster than others. And working in extreme heat can increase the risk of preterm birth, birth defects, low birth weight, or stillbirth. While WorkLife Law continues to press for additional workplace safety mandates, we are also helping workers use existing laws to stay safe.
To help protect pregnant workers from the dangers of extreme heat in the workplace, WorkLife Law has produced new resources:
📄 Know Your Rights Webpage and Guide
WorkLife Law is making it easier for workers to stay safe through our new “Heat, Hazards, and Healthy Pregnancies” webpage and printable guides, produced in partnership with the National Council for Occupational Safety and Health (COSH). This resource breaks down what heat hazards to watch for, what accommodations to request, how to ask for them, and what to do if something goes wrong.
🎥 Bilingual Teach-In
In order to support the advocates fighting to protect the health of pregnant workers, we recently offered a teach-in, in partnership with National COSH. Our one-hour bilingual (English/spanish) virtual training provided worker advocates and community health partners the tools they need to use the law to support pregnant workers facing heat and other hazards on the job.
📞 Free & Confidential Legal Helpline
WorkLife Law’s free helpline is available to workers navigating pregnancy accommodations, leave rights, and workplace retaliation. Our services are available in English, Spanish, and other languages, regardless of income or immigration status.
🌱 Resources for California Farmworkers
Farmworkers face some of the most severe heat conditions on the job. Our Dar a Luz: Legal Rights for Farmworkers in Pregnancy and Postpartum initiative provides specialized support, education, and legal resources for pregnant farmworkers and the advocates who serve them.