(Effective until January 1, 2027)
(1) An employer must provide employees who are pregnant or have a pregnancy-related health condition a reasonable pregnancy accommodation, which includes the following:
(a) Providing more frequent, longer, or flexible restroom breaks;
(b) Modifying a no food or drink policy;
(c) Providing seating or allowing an employee to sit more frequently if the job requires standing;
(d) Providing reasonable break time for an employee to express breast milk for two years after the child's birth each time the employee has need to express the milk and providing a private location, other than a bathroom, if such a location exists at the place of business or worksite, which may be used by the employee to express breast milk. If the business location does not have a space for the employee to express breast milk, the employer shall work with the employee to identify a convenient location and work schedule to accommodate their needs;
(e) Job restructuring, part-time or modified work schedules, reassignment to a vacant position, or acquiring or modifying equipment, devices, or an employee's work station;
(f) Providing a temporary transfer to a less strenuous or less hazardous position;
(g) Providing assistance with manual labor and limits on lifting;
(h) Scheduling flexibility for prenatal visits; and
(i) Any further pregnancy accommodation an employee may request and to which an employer must give reasonable consideration in consultation with information provided on pregnancy accommodation by the department of labor and industries or the employee's attending health care provider.
(2) An employer cannot require an employee who is pregnant or has a pregnancy-related health condition to take leave if another reasonable pregnancy accommodation can be provided.
(3) The employer is not required to create additional employment that the employer would not otherwise have created, unless the employer does so or would do so for other classes of employees who need accommodation.
[Statutory Authority: Chapter 43.01 RCW and RCW 43.10.005. WSR 20-24-022, § 357-26-035, filed 11/20/20, effective 12/28/20; WSR 19-17-041, § 357-26-035, filed 8/15/19, effective 9/23/19. Statutory Authority: Chapter 41.06 RCW, RCW 43.10.005 and 49.76.040. WSR 19-05-056, § 357-26-035, filed 2/15/19, effective 3/29/19.]
(Effective January 1, 2027)
(1) An employer must provide individuals who are pregnant or have a pregnancy-related health condition a reasonable pregnancy accommodation, which may include the following:
(a) Providing more frequent, longer, or flexible restroom breaks;
(b) Modifying a no food or drink policy;
(c) Providing seating or allowing an individual to sit more frequently if the job requires standing;
(d) Providing reasonable break time to express breast milk for two years after the child's birth each time the individual has a need to express the milk and providing a private location, other than a bathroom, if such a location exists at the place of business or worksite, which may be used by the individual to express breast milk. If the business location does not have a space to express breast milk, the employer shall work with the individual to identify a convenient location and work schedule to accommodate their needs;
(e) Job restructuring, part-time or modified work schedules, reassignment to a vacant position, or acquiring or modifying equipment, devices, or an individual's work station;
(f) Providing a temporary transfer to a less strenuous or less hazardous position;
(g) Providing assistance with manual labor and limits on lifting;
(h) Scheduling flexibility for prenatal and postpartum visits; and
(i) Any further pregnancy accommodation an individual may request and to which an employer must give reasonable consideration in consultation with information provided on pregnancy accommodation by the department of labor and industries or the individual's attending health care provider.
(2) An employer cannot require an individual who is pregnant or has a pregnancy-related health condition to take leave if another reasonable pregnancy accommodation can be provided.
(3) The employer is not required to create additional employment that the employer would not otherwise have created, unless the employer does so or would do so for other classes of individuals who need accommodation.
(4) As required in subsection (1)(d) of this section, any break time and any time traveling to a location, identified by the employer and an individual, to express milk must be paid at the individual's regular rate. An individual must not be required to use paid leave during break or travel time to express milk during work. Any break time to express milk is in addition to meal and rest periods under chapter 49.12 RCW.
[Statutory Authority: RCW 41.06.133, 49.92.010, and 49.92.020. WSR 26-18-048, s 357-26-035, filed 8/28/26, effective 1/1/27. Statutory Authority: Chapter 43.01 RCW and RCW 43.10.005. WSR 20-24-022, § 357-26-035, filed 11/20/20, effective 12/28/20; WSR 19-17-041, § 357-26-035, filed 8/15/19, effective 9/23/19. Statutory Authority: Chapter 41.06 RCW, RCW 43.10.005 and 49.76.040. WSR 19-05-056, § 357-26-035, filed 2/15/19, effective 3/29/19.]