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Introduced Version House Bill 4284 History

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Key: Green = existing Code. Red = new code to be enacted
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H. B. 4284

 

         (By Delegates Perdue, Fleischauer, Barrett,

         Caputo, Guthrie, Kinsey, Lawrence, Manchin,

               Skinner, Sponaugle and Young)

         [Introduced January 24, 2014; referred to the

         Committee on the Judiciary.]

 

 

A BILL to amend the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, by adding thereto a new article, designated §5-11B-1, §5-11B-2, §5-11B-3 and §5-11B-4, all relating to requiring that reasonable accommodations be made for pregnant employees; defining terms; establishing what constitutes sex discrimination; establishing what is an undue hardship; and requiring written notification.

Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:

    That the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, be amended by adding thereto a new article, designated §5-11B-1, §5-11B-2, §5-11B-3 and §5-11B-4, all to read as follows:

ARTICLE 11B. PREGNANT WORKERS’ FAIRNESS ACT.

§5-11B-1. Definitions.

    For the purposes of this article:

    (1) “Reasonable accommodations” means, but is not limited to, the provision of an accessible worksite, acquisition or modification of equipment, seating, frequent bathroom breaks, breaks for increased water intake, periodic rest, assistance with manual labor, job restructuring, light duty assignments, modified work schedules, or temporary transfers to less strenuous or hazardous work.

    (2) “Related medical conditions” means, but is not limited to, lactation or the need to express breast milk for a nursing child.

§5-11B-2. Reasonable accommodations.

    (a) It is unlawful sex discrimination for an employer to:

    (1) Not make reasonable accommodations for any limitations related to the pregnancy, childbirth, or related conditions of a job applicant or employee if the employee or applicant so requests, unless the employer can demonstrate that the accommodation would impose an undue hardship on the operation of the employer’s business;

    (2) In any way penalize an employee in terms, conditions or privileges of employment for requesting or using the accommodation;

    (3) Deny employment opportunities to an otherwise qualified job applicant or employee, if the denial is based on the need of the employer to make reasonable accommodations to the known limitations related to the pregnancy, childbirth or related conditions of the applicant or employee;

    (4) Require a job applicant or employee affected by pregnancy, childbirth or related conditions to accept an accommodation that the applicant or employee chooses not to accept; or

    (5) Require an employee to take leave under any leave law or policy of the employer if another reasonable accommodation can be provided to the known limitations related to the pregnancy, childbirth or related conditions of an employee.

    (b) An employee who takes leave or a temporary transfer as a result of the limitations related to pregnancy, childbirth or related conditions must be reinstated to her original job or to an equivalent position with equivalent pay and accumulated seniority, retirement, fringe benefits and other applicable service credits when her need for reasonable accommodations ceases.

    (c) An employer is not required to create additional employment that the employer would not otherwise have created.

    (d) The employer is not required to discharge any employee, transfer any employee with more seniority, or promote any employee who is not qualified to perform the job.

    (e) This section does not affect any other provision of law relating to sex discrimination or pregnancy, or in any way diminish the coverage for pregnancy, childbirth or a condition related to pregnancy or childbirth under any other provision of this section.

§5-11B-3. Undue hardship.

    (a) The employer has the burden of proving undue hardship. In making a determination of undue hardship, the factors which may be considered include, but are not limited to, the:

    (1) Overall financial resources of the employer;

    (2) Overall size of the employer's operation with respect to the number of its employees;

    (3) Number, type and location of its facilities;

    (4) Nature of the employer's operation, including composition, structure and functions of the employer's workforce;

    (5) Geographic separateness, administrative or fiscal relationship of the employer's facility or facilities;

    (6) Nature and cost of the accommodations needed; and

    (7) Effect on expenses and resources, or the impact otherwise of such accommodation upon the employer's operation.

    (b) The fact that the employer provides or would be required to provide a similar accommodation to other classes of employees who need it creates a rebuttable presumption that the accommodation does not impose an undue hardship on the employer.

§5-11B-4. Written notification.

    (a) An employer shall provide written notice of the right to reasonable accommodations to known limitations related to pregnancy, childbirth, and related conditions pursuant to this section, to:

    (1) New employees at the commencement of employment;

    (2) Existing employees within one hundred twenty days after the effective of this section; and

    (3) Any employee who notifies the employer of her pregnancy within ten days of the notification.

    (b) The Human Rights Commission may revise the notification prepared under this section to include information concerning an employee's right to reasonable accommodation because of pregnancy, childbirth or a related condition.

    (c) The revised notification shall be conspicuously posted at an employer's place of business in an area accessible to employees.

 

    NOTE: The purpose of this bill is to create the Pregnant Workers’ Fairness Act.


    This article is new; therefore, it has been completely underscored.

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