Latest news with #FairEmploymentPracticesAct
Fast Company
28-07-2025
- Health
- Fast Company
Rhode Island is the first state to provide menopause accommodations at work
Rhode Island will now provide workplace accommodations for women experiencing menopause. The groundbreaking move makes the state the first ever to mandate any accommodations related to menopause by law. Effective June 24, 2025, the state's Fair Employment Practices Act, which covers conditions relating to pregnancy, labor, and postpartum, added menopause to the list of conditions it covers. Under the amended act, reasonable accommodations for menopause or menopause-related conditions, including 'the need to manage the effects of vasomotor symptoms,' such as hot flashes (one of the most common menopause symptoms), are included. The bill, however, did not provide more detail on what reasonable accommodations look like. 'Menopause is a difficult and personal subject that has been stigmatized in this country,' Senator Lori Urso (D-Dist. 8, Pawtucket), who introduced the legislation, earlier this year said in a press release. 'But it's high time we normalize it, especially for the benefit of women in the workplace.' Urso added that a lack of such protections contributes to the gender pay gap and causes women to lose leadership opportunities. Under Rhode Island's Fair Employment Practices Act, the state already required employers with at least four employees to provide accommodations for pregnant persons and conditions related to pregnancy and childbirth. At least 31 states mandate such accommodations—a number that has been rising in recent years. All 50 states must require some accommodations for lactation, too, under the Fair Labor Standards Act. In 2022, the PUMP Act expanded those protections to include more industries, like nursing, education, truck and taxi drivers, and more. However, menopause accommodations have long been overlooked. That's in spite of the fact that the normal, yet often uncomfortable, condition impacts nearly half the population. An estimated 85% of people experience symptoms such as mood swings, migraines, hot flashes, insomnia, anxiety, night sweats, and more during menopause. For some, those symptoms can be severe, however, until now, no state has legally acknowledged the condition in the workplace. The ACLU of Rhode Island spoke to the importance of the proposed legislation earlier in a press release prior to its passing. 'Menopause is a natural and common phase in the lives of millions of individuals, but its impact and symptoms can have profound and long-lasting effects on a person's health and daily life,' said Madalyn McGunagle, policy associate at the Rhode Island ACLU. McGunagle continued, 'The ACLU of Rhode Island supports this bill, which would make explicit that employers must provide reasonable accommodations to employees experiencing menopause, just as the law currently requires accommodations for various pregnancy-related conditions. By extending protections to those experiencing menopause, we can ensure that they are given the necessary accommodations to continue performing their jobs effectively.' Unlike the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act, which was written in gender neutral language and covers transgender individuals, Rhode Island's Fair Employment Practices Act does not include such language. Fast Company reached out to Senator Urso's office to clarify whether menopause accommodations will include transgender individuals but did not hear back by the time of publication.
Yahoo
08-02-2025
- Yahoo
Community Focus: RI Commission for Human Rights
PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) — Tina Christy Mancini, Chief Compliance Officer at the Rhode Island Commission for Human Rights, joined 12 News at 4 on Friday to discuss the organization's mission and services. The Commission for Human Rights was established in 1999 with the enactment of the Fair Employment Practices Act. According to Mancini, the commission is responsible for enforcing anti-discrimination laws in employment, housing, public accommodations, services and credit. The organization protects individuals against discrimination based on race, disability, sexual orientation, gender and age. 'It is appropriate at any time to call the commission,' Mancini said. 'We take phone calls and walk-ins. We get back to people who call on a daily basis.' She emphasized that the commission listens to individuals' concerns to assess if they can assist with their situation. '90% of the cases being filed are employment discrimination,' she added. 'So if someone feels they are being sexually harassed at work or being discriminated against because of their age, then they would call us and we would assist them in filing the charge.' All services provided by the commission are free of charge. AHEAD: RIDOT employee 'very clearly' being targeted for speaking out, attorney says Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
