Maryland has passed a law which requires covered employers ( defined as employers employing 15 or more employees for each working day each of 20 or more calendar weeks in the current or preceding calendar year) to provide certain reasonable accommodations to pregnant employees, as long as it does not pose an undue hardship to do so. This includes but is not limited to exploring a transfer to a less strenuous or less hazardous position (e.g. light duty). In addition, the law requires covered employers to post and include in any employee handbook information concerning an employee’s rights to reasonable accommodations and leave for a disability caused or contributed to by pregnancy. The new law is effective October 1, 2013.
For more information and a model handbook policy and an interim poster please review the details below.