Why isn’t NC protecting pregnant people at work?

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Protect pregnant NC women at work

The writer is a senior advisor at NC Child.

Labor Day gave us the chance to reflect on and thank the millions of hard-working people who power our state. Yet again, I was disappointed that pregnant workers in North Carolina still do not have the right to reasonable, temporary, medically-advised accommodations in the workplace — despite Congress considering a national Pregnant Workers Fairness Act for more than two years.

It’s unconscionable that a pregnant worker does not have the right to ask for simple accommodations, such as relief from heavy lifting and long periods of standing, and can even be fired for doing so. This forces many women to endure unnecessary risks to pregnancy.

An example is an acquaintance of mine. In her third month of pregnancy she began experiencing worrisome symptoms. Her doctor advised her to avoid physical stress as much as possible. Unfortunately, part of her much-needed job included some heavy lifting. Doctor’s note in hand, she asked her employer for a temporary exemption from, or reduction in, heavy lifting. The employer declined. That left her with three options: terminate her employment and put her family in a financial bind; terminate the pregnancy, which she had not contemplated; or carry her pregnancy to term, accepting the risks to the health of the fetus and her own life.

In 21st century North Carolina, it is outrageous that she had to make this choice. (You can imagine the stress in just making it.) And she is not alone. Physicians and advocates report that this is an all-too-frequent occurrence.

Our political leaders are now giving serious consideration to restricting or removing the option of pregnancy termination. This makes it even more urgent that pregnancy- protecting common sense measures as the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act be adopted.

In the absence of federal action, about half the states have statutes providing these workplace accommodations to protect pregnancy. While they have “hardship clauses” to mitigate the stress on businesses, so far our General Assembly has not yet adopted such pregnancy protections. They should do so in the coming legislative session if Congress does not act soon on the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act.

Tom Vitaglione, Raleigh

NC ranks as worst place to work

The writers are co-directors of the Workers’ Right Project at the NC Justice Center.

Once again, North Carolina ranks dead last in Oxfam’s 2022 Best States to Work Index.

The index tracks 26 workplace policies across all 50 states plus Washington, D.C. and Puerto Rico, ranking states from best to worst. Also dead last on Oxfam’s 2022 Best States for Working Women list: North Carolina.

Even after the pandemic, North Carolina has no laws on the books that mandate paid sick leave. Nor do we protect people from sexual harassment at work or guarantee the right of to organize or unionize.

Although most states raised the minimum wage above the federal minimum, the N.C. legislature passed on multiple opportunities to do so, leaving the minimum wage at $7.25 an hour — far below the estimated $24.25 hourly wage the N.C. Budget and Tax Center estimates is needed for a single parent of one.

The hourly tipped wage ($2.13 per hour) is worse. This has a disproportionate impact on women, who make up 69% of the tipped workforce. Women of color make up 27% of tipped workers. In fact, 60% of the women of color working in North Carolina earn less than $15 an hour.

Since legislative leaders seem unable to do what’s necessary, N.C. workers organize and stand up for our own rights at work. Workers and activists who did it in other states made meaningful gains for themselves, their families. For example, working people in New Mexico organized to pass paid sick leave that protects them from losing their jobs and guarantees financial support when they take time off to recover from illness or care for sick loved ones.

If we don’t act soon, our state will not be able to compete with other states for talent. The working people of North Carolina are its economic engine. Without us, the economy loses steam. It’s time state lawmakers learn this, and it’s up to us to show them.

Ana Pardo

Clermont Ripley