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Iowa Senate panel OKs bill that would help pregnant workers

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February 11th, 2015 by Ric Hanson

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – A Senate panel has approved a bill that would require Iowa businesses to provide reasonable accommodations to pregnant employees. Members of a labor and business relations subcommittee approved the bill Tuesday. It now heads to a full committee for consideration. The bill would define reasonable accommodations as anything from modifying equipment that a pregnant employee must use to assisting them with their work schedule. The bill states the action cannot impose an undue hardship on the business or employer.

A few business groups oppose the bill. The American Civil Liberties Union of Iowa says the bill would affirm a decision by the Iowa Civil Rights Commission, which enforces the state’s civil rights act. The commission said in 2013 that employers must provide such accommodations to pregnant employees.