10.74 Pregnant Worker Accommodations
The University will provide reasonable accommodations to employees and applicants with limitations related to pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions, unless the accommodation will cause undue hardship to the University's operations, as required by the federal Pregnant Workers Fairness Act (PWFA).
An employee or applicant may request an accommodation due to pregnancy, childbirth or a related medical condition by submitting the request in writing to the University's Human Resources Office. The accommodation request should include an explanation of the pregnancy-related limitations, the accommodation needed and any alternative accommodation(s) that might be reasonable. Depending on the nature of the accommodation, the individual may be requested to submit a statement from a health care provider substantiating the need for the accommodation.
Upon receipt of a request for accommodation, the Human Resources Office will contact the employee or applicant to discuss the request and determine if an accommodation is reasonable and can be provided without significant difficulty or expense, i.e., undue hardship.
While the reasonableness of each accommodation request will be individually assessed, possible accommodations include allowing the individual to: sit while working; drink water during the workday; receive closer-in parking; have flexible hours; receive appropriately sized uniforms and safety apparel; receive additional break time to use the bathroom, eat and rest; take time off to recover from childbirth; and be excused from strenuous activities and/or activities that involve exposure to compounds deemed unsafe during pregnancy.
An employee may request to use the employee's accrued paid leave or unpaid leave as a reasonable accommodation under this policy; however, the University will not require an employee to take time off if another reasonable accommodation can be provided that will allow the employee to continue to work.
The University prohibits any retaliation, harassment or adverse action due to an individual’s request for an accommodation under this policy or for reporting or participating in an investigation of unlawful pregnancy discrimination.
An employee or applicant may request an accommodation due to pregnancy, childbirth or a related medical condition by submitting the request in writing to the University's Human Resources Office. The accommodation request should include an explanation of the pregnancy-related limitations, the accommodation needed and any alternative accommodation(s) that might be reasonable. Depending on the nature of the accommodation, the individual may be requested to submit a statement from a health care provider substantiating the need for the accommodation.
Upon receipt of a request for accommodation, the Human Resources Office will contact the employee or applicant to discuss the request and determine if an accommodation is reasonable and can be provided without significant difficulty or expense, i.e., undue hardship.
While the reasonableness of each accommodation request will be individually assessed, possible accommodations include allowing the individual to: sit while working; drink water during the workday; receive closer-in parking; have flexible hours; receive appropriately sized uniforms and safety apparel; receive additional break time to use the bathroom, eat and rest; take time off to recover from childbirth; and be excused from strenuous activities and/or activities that involve exposure to compounds deemed unsafe during pregnancy.
An employee may request to use the employee's accrued paid leave or unpaid leave as a reasonable accommodation under this policy; however, the University will not require an employee to take time off if another reasonable accommodation can be provided that will allow the employee to continue to work.
The University prohibits any retaliation, harassment or adverse action due to an individual’s request for an accommodation under this policy or for reporting or participating in an investigation of unlawful pregnancy discrimination.
Effective Date
Approved by Board of Curators: January 15, 2026