The governor of Rhode Island recently signed a new law, making that state the first in the U.S. to mandate workplace accommodations for menopause.
This groundbreaking law means that employers across Rhode Island will now be legally required to provide timely and good-faith, reasonable accommodations to employees experiencing menopause or related medical conditions, unless those accommodations pose an undue hardship on the employer’s business.
The law amends Rhode Island’s Fair Employment Practices Act and will now require employers to not only provide accommodations for pregnancy, childbirth, but also menopause.
The law states:
“Reasonably accommodate” means providing reasonable accommodations, including, but not limited to, more frequent or longer breaks, time off to recover from childbirth, acquisition or modification of equipment, seating, temporary transfer to a less strenuous or hazardous position, job restructuring, light duty, break time and private non-bathroom space for expressing breast milk, assistance with manual labor, or modified work schedules…”
Employers in Rhode Island are also required to post a written notice advising employees of their right to be free of discrimination for menopause, related medical conditions, and the right to request reasonable accommodations for their conditions.
New York and New Jersey are also considering similar bills to address menopause-related issues. While Missouri and Illinois are not currently considering menopause-related legislation, the legislation in New York, New Jersey, and Rhode Island suggests a greater shift in reducing workplace discrimination for women.
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