17 states challenge federal rules entitling workers to accommodations for abortion
Source: AP
Updated 7:00 PM EDT, April 25, 2024
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) Republican attorneys general from 17 states filed a lawsuit Thursday challenging new federal rules entitling workers to time off and other accommodations for abortions, calling the rules an illegal interpretation of a 2022 federal law.
The lawsuit led by Tennessee and Arkansas comes since finalized federal regulations were published on Monday to provide guidance for employers and workers on how to implement the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act. The language means workers can ask for time off to obtain an abortion and recover from the procedure.
The rules, which the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission adopted on a 3-2 vote along party lines, will go into effect June 18. The lawsuit filed in federal court in Arkansas argues the regulations go beyond the scope of the 2022 law that passed with bipartisan support.
This is yet another attempt by the Biden administration to force through administrative fiat what it cannot get passed through Congress, Arkansas Attorney General Tim Griffin said in a statement. Under this radical interpretation of the PWFA, business owners will face federal lawsuits if they dont accommodate employees abortions, even if those abortions are illegal under state law.
Read more: https://apnews.com/article/abortion-time-off-pregnant-workers-lawsuit-f710dab0846ecef58e7aa8f2e966370c
CTyankee
(63,912 posts)If the employee has the time off she can just say it's for minor surgery. It's none of the employer's business what kind of surgery it is and it would be an invasion of the employee's privacy to ask why or what is being done.
riversedge
(70,306 posts)bluestarone
(17,043 posts)That's what the states are trying.