Bill Aims To Protect Pregnant Workers From Discrimination

AUGUSTA, Maine (AP) — Maine could provide further protections for pregnant workers from discrimination in the workplace when their employers fail to accommodate them.

Democratic Rep. Anne Carney's bill is set for a work session before the Legislature's Judiciary Committee Thursday.

Maine law currently says an employer who treats a pregnant woman differently than other workers is unlawfully discriminating against the employee.

The bill would change "pregnant woman" to "pregnant person."

Maine would also consider it unlawful employment discrimination for employers to fail to accommodate an employee's limitations due to pregnancy or childbirth. The bill would make an exception if such an accommodation would pose an undue hardship for the employer.

The bill would also say employees with a pregnancy-related condition have the same accommodation rights in state employment law as individuals with disabilities.