pregnant employees; reasonable accommodation

SB 1401, the "Pregnant Workers Protection Act," requires Arizona employers with 15 or more employees to provide reasonable accommodations for pregnant workers without causing undue hardship. It mandates specific accommodations like modified equipment, more frequent breaks, schedule changes, and private breastfeeding areas, while prohibiting employers from forcing pregnant employees to use vacation or sick leave when accommodations are possible. Employers must post notices about these requirements in employee handbooks and provide written notices at hiring, within 180 days of the law’s effective date, and within 10 days of a pregnancy announcement. The bill directly affects pregnant employees and their employers in covered workplaces, focusing on concrete policy changes to support workplace accommodations.