Regulation & Approvals
California Civil Rights Council Proposes New Pregnancy Leave and Telework Rules
By News Desk ·
Key takeaways
- The California Civil Rights Council proposed new regulations on leave and accommodations for pregnant workers, the first update in more than a decade.
- The proposal clarifies that pregnancy protections cover related medical conditions such as postpartum depression, low milk supply and lower back pain, and that telework can be a reasonable accommodation.
- Public comments are due by 5 p.m. PT on December 8, with a public hearing at 11 a.m. PT that day.
The California Civil Rights Council proposed new regulations on Monday that clarify pregnancy protections apply to related medical conditions such as postpartum depression, low milk supply and lower back pain, and that telework can be a reasonable accommodation. The proposal, the first update to the state's pregnancy leave rules in more than a decade, was reported by Yahoo.
What the California Civil Rights Council Proposed
The proposal aims to incorporate changes to California law and, where appropriate, align state law with the federal Pregnant Workers Fairness Act, which went into effect in 2024, according to the council. It outlines that changes to the work environment or pausing some essential functions can be considered reasonable accommodations. It also expands the healthcare providers who can determine an employee's need for an accommodation to include nurses, doulas and psychiatrists, and removes the requirement that bonding leave be taken in two-week increments.
"As the workplace continues to change, our state's civil rights protections have to keep pace," California Civil Rights Department Director Kevin Kish said in a statement. "Pregnant workers and new parents have the right to take time off and ask for changes at work to help them stay on the job."
Civil Rights Council Councilmember Denny Chan said in a statement that the proposed regulations update the state's protections to ensure pregnant workers have the right to leave and accommodations that help them stay at work. Public comments can be submitted until 5 p.m. PT Dec. 8, and a public hearing will be held at 11 a.m. PT Dec. 8, the council said.
California Civil Rights Department Enforcement Record
The California Civil Rights Department is the largest state civil rights agency in the country, according to akta.pro company records, and investigates thousands of complaints each year. The same records show the department sustained high-volume regulatory enforcement output in 2025, securing settlements across employment, housing, disability, pregnancy and fair-chance categories, with multiple $150K-$200K monetary settlements and policy reform commitments from employers including Ralphs, FedEx, Whole Foods, Tesla, and various municipalities and school districts. Its Dispute Resolution Division resolves hundreds of civil rights complaints each year through mediation.
December 8 Hearing and Comment Deadline
The council set a public hearing for 11 a.m. PT on Dec. 8, with public comments accepted until 5 p.m. PT that day. The proposal would update regulations around leave, reasonable accommodations and temporary transfers for pregnant workers.