As discussed in our June 2018 Alert, earlier this year the South Carolina Legislature passed the Pregnancy Accommodations Act, which expands existing state law protections for pregnant employees and, notably, requires employers to provide reasonable accommodations for “medical needs arising from pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions.” Pursuant to this new law, the South Carolina Human Affairs Commission has issued a new poster, which must be posted by all employers in South Carolina with 15 or more employees. The poster is available in English and Spanish.
In addition, South Carolina employers should update their EEO policy to include language prohibiting discrimination based on pregnancy (including medical needs due to pregnancy, child birth or other related medical conditions). Employers should also include language in their policies about providing reasonable accommodations related to pregnancy, childbirth and related medical conditions (including, but not limited to, lactation).
Employers who have not updated their handbooks recently should take this opportunity to consider a full update.
Please contact the author of this Alert, Jeffrey Lehrer, jlehrer@fordharrison.com, a partner in our Spartanburg office, if you have any questions about this new law or poster requirement, including where the poster should be displayed. Of course, you may also contact the FordHarrison attorney with whom you usually work.