New federal protections for pregnant people on the job go into effect starting Tuesday. Pregnancy discrimination has been illegal for decades, but the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act helps close loopholes to ensure pregnant people can have reasonable accommodations met at work.

Here & Now‘s Robin Young has an explainer with Elizabeth Gedmark, an attorney and vice president of an advocacy group called A Better Balance.

Resources:

• A Better Balance helpline
• PWFA Know Your Rights page, which includes sample letters
• State-by-state Workplace Rights hub

Natasha Jackson lost her job while pregnant because she asked to get a break from heavy lifting and her employer said no. (Courtesy of A Better Balance)

This article was originally published on WBUR.org.

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