“This unmistakably says that pregnant women have equal protection in the workplace under the Pregnancy Discrimination Act,” says Vicki Shabo, vice president at the National Partnership for Women & Families. She also highlights the significance of Justice Kennedy’s dissent.
The National Partnership for Women & Families estimates that the inequality costs women across California $37 billion annually.
A clear nationwide standard, according to Vicki Shabo of the National Partnership for Women & Families, would protect all women at work, “eliminating the need for workers to go to court to determine whether an employer must provide accommodations for pregnancy,” thus ensuring their rights at work aren’t dependent on an employer’s whim.
Statement of Debra L. Ness, President, National Partnership for Women & Families
“To see 61 senators—Democrats and Republicans—go on record in support of paid sick days is a clear sign that elected officials are hearing from their constituents and taking note of the many cities and states that are adopting paid sick days laws, which are working well for businesses, economies, workers and families,” Debra L. Ness, president of the National Partnership for Women and Families.
“This is one way of changing culture, and changing business practices, and ultimately changing public policy,” said Vicki Shabo, who oversees workplace programs at the National Partnership for Women and Families.
Statement of Debra L. Ness, President, National Partnership for Women & Families
“But voluntary measures will not be enough, given how pervasive pregnancy discrimination is in our country,” said Judith Lichtman, senior adviser for the National Partnership for Women & Families.
Statement of Debra L. Ness, President, National Partnership for Women & Families
“Any ruling that will mean fewer pregnant women face discrimination in the workplace is good for women, good for families, and good for our economy and our country,” said Judith L. Lichtman, a senior advisor at the National Partnership for Women and Families.
Statement of Judith L. Lichtman, Senior Advisor, National Partnership for Women & Families
Statement of Debra L. Ness, President, National Partnership for Women & Families
“The evidence from the states show that the concerns that [opponents] raise are unfounded,” says Vicki Shabo, vice president of the National Partnership for Women & Families. “The parade of horribles that they listed before passage hasn’t happened.”
“I do think the positive thing here is we’re increasingly seeing both Democrats and Republicans identifying a fundamental problem, which is that our workplace policies don’t reflect the needs that working families have,” said Vicki Shabo, vice president of the National Partnership for Women & Families. “At this point, Democrats and Republicans just have very different solutions in mind.”
Statement of Debra L. Ness, President, National Partnership for Women & Families
(Statistics provided by the National Partnership for Women & Families)
“It adds insult to injury to hold up the vote to confirm Lynch until that bill passes,” said Debra L. Ness, president of the National Partnership for Women & Families.
“According to you, Albany’s appetite for change has been filled by other policies that seek to advance women’s equality, and which deserve to be addressed first,” said the letter, which was signed by female leaders from the U.S. Women’s Chamber of Commerce, the National Partnership for Women and Families, A.F.L.-C.I.O., and the Center for American Progress.
Statement of Debra L. Ness, President, National Partnership for Women & Families