Senators Host Hearing Tues. In Plymouth Meeting On PA Pregnancy Workplace Accommodations

PLYMOUTH MEETING, PA — A local state legislator will join colleagues Tuesday to host a public hearing to discuss the need for workplace accommodations for pregnant Pennsylvanians.

State Sen. Katie Muth, D-44, chair of the Senate Democratic Policy Committee, will join fellow State Senators Amanda Cappelletti, who represents parts of Montgomery and Delaware Counites, and Judy Schwank, who represents parts of Berks County, during a hearing at 10 a.m. at the United Food and Commercial Workers Union Local 1776 in Plymouth Meeting.

The hearing, which will take place in person but also be available via virtual broadcasting, is designed to focus around Cappelletti's proposal, Senate Bill 716, which would make it illegal for an employer to refuse a worker's request for reasonable pregnancy accommodation unless doing so would represent an undue hardship to the employer, according to a news release from Sen. Muth's office.

"Too many times, we hear horror stories from pregnant Pennsylvanians whose employers are not making any accommodations to protect the health and well-being of these pregnant employees," Muth, who represents parts of Montgomery, Chester and Berks Counties, said in a statement. "I am grateful that Senator Cappelletti and Senator Schwank are leading the charge on this important issue in the Senate to ensure that pregnant Pennsylvanians no longer face discrimination in the workplace."

According to Muth's office, 12 states have currently passed legislation requiring employers to provide reasonable accommodations to pregnant workers.

"In Pennsylvania, we don't do enough to protect pregnant workers," Cappelletti said in a statement. "I'm glad that we will be hearing from experts about how reasonable accommodations can help pregnant people and businesses."

Schwank called workplace accommodations a "critical maternal health measure."

"These measures often come at low or no-cost and employers profit from reduced turnover and increased productivity," Schwank said in a statement. "At a time when the pandemic has forced far too many women of childbearing age to leave the workforce because of family care obligations, workplace accommodations for pregnant women and new parents are increasingly important to economic success."

Those expected to participate in Tuesday's hearing include Marianne Fray, chief executive officer of Maternity Care Coalition; Sophia Elliot, a legal fellow with the Women's Law Project; Kerin Kohler, a social worker with Women's Health Center; and Brittney Rodas, a legislative and political representative with UFCW Local 1776.

Those who wish to participate in the hearing virtually can register here.

The hearing will be live-streamed here.