L.L. 2013/078

Enactment date: 10/2/2013

Int. No. 974-A

By Council Members Vacca, Lander, Palma, Rose, Lappin, Arroyo, Brewer, Chin, Eugene, Ferreras, Gentile, Jackson, James, Koo, Koppell, Koslowitz, Mendez, Reyna, Rivera, Williams, Rodriguez, Mark-Viverito, Crowley, Gonzalez, Levin, Van Bramer, Weprin, Garodnick, Barron, Gennaro, Greenfield, Mealy and Ulrich

A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to prohibiting discrimination in employment based on pregnancy, childbirth, or a related medical condition.

Be it enacted by the Council as follows:

Section 1. Legislative findings and intent. The Council finds that pregnant women are vulnerable to discrimination in the workplace in New York City. For example, there are reports that women who request an accommodation that will allow them to maintain a healthy pregnancy, or who need a reasonable accommodation while recovering from childbirth, are being removed from their positions, placed on unpaid leave, or fired. It is the intent of the Council to combat this form of discrimination by requiring employers to provide reasonable accommodations to pregnant women and those who suffer medical conditions related to pregnancy and childbirth. Such a reasonable accommodation may include bathroom breaks, leave for a period of disability arising from childbirth, breaks to facilitate increased water intake, periodic rest for those who stand for long periods of time, and assistance with manual labor, among other things. It is not the intent of the Council to require such accommodations if their provision would cause an undue hardship in the conduct of an employer's business.

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[Consolidated provisions are not included in this Appendix A]

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§ 5. This local law shall take effect 120 days after it shall have become a law, except that the commissioner shall, prior to such effective date, take such actions as are necessary to implement the provisions of this law.