ADA and Accommodations for Pregnant and Nursing Mothers Policies

The Americans with Disabilities Act Policy (BU-PP 415) and the Lactation Accommodations Policy (BU-PP 416) have been updated to ensure compliance with the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act (PWFA) and to provide greater clarity for employees.

The key updates are as follows:

• Renaming the Lactation Accommodations Policy (BU-PP 416): The title has been changed to the "Accommodations for Pregnant and Nursing Mothers Policy" to reflect the broader scope of employer requirements for reasonable accommodations.
• Revised Policy Structure: Language pertaining to the PWFA has been moved from the ADA policy to the new "Pregnant and Nursing Mothers Policy" to clearly distinguish between the accommodation requirements for disabilities under the ADA and those for pregnant workers under the PWFA. For instance, pregnancy-related accommodations will not require certification paperwork.
• Clarified ADA Policy: The ADA policy has been updated to remove references to the PWFA and include new language about the university's responsibilities to accommodate job applicants, as well as guidance on handling multiple accommodation requests by an individual employee.
• Compliance with PWFA: The updated policies now provide clear, compliant guidelines for applicants and employees, outlining expectations and examples of reasonable accommodations related to pregnancy and lactation.
• Resources and Support: New links to relevant information and resources are included, along with updated guidelines on reasonable accommodations for lactation.
• Anti-Retaliation Protections: The policies emphasize protection against retaliation or discrimination based on requests for accommodations related to pregnancy or nursing.