OLYMPIA — A bill to clarify pregnancy and postpartum workplace accommodation requirements was heard Friday in the Senate Labor & Commerce Committee.
Senate Bill 6014, sponsored by Sen. T’wina Nobles (D-Fircrest), refines Washington’s Health Starts Act by clarifying when employers may request written certification for pregnancy-related accommodations and strengthening privacy protections for workers.
The bill addresses a technical issue in statute language passed last year that, if left unchanged, would alter long-standing practice once it takes effect. It clarifies that employers may not require a doctor’s note for certain commonsense accommodations, such as restroom breaks, access to food or water during a shift, limits on lifting over 17 pounds, access to a stool or chair to sit, or time to express milk postpartum.
The bill does not change existing law allowing employers to deny accommodations if they would cause an undue hardship, defined as significant difficulty or expense. It also protects sensitive personal and medical information from public disclosure when workers seek assistance or file complaints related to pregnancy or childbirth.
“Last year, we came together with strong bipartisan support to expand pregnancy and postpartum workplace protections for workers across Washington,” Nobles said. “This bill makes a small, technical clarification to ensure the law functions as intended — providing clarity for employers, protecting workers’ privacy, and preventing unnecessary barriers to basic, reasonable accommodations.”
Follow its progress here.