DC Updates Protecting Pregnant Workers Fairness Act Notice

The District of Columbia’s Office of Human Rights has released an update to the Protecting Pregnant Workers Fairness Act notice, which has a revision date of 1/3/19. The notice includes new information on what happens after an employee files an accommodation or discrimination violation complaint against an employer.

New Process for Handling Complaints

Employees who believe their employer has denied then a reasonable accommodation or discriminated against them due to pregnancy, childbirth, their need to breastfeed, or a related medical condition may still file a complaint within 1 year with the DC Office of Human Rights (OHR). These complaints may be made online at ohr.dc.gov or in person at the street address provided on the notice.

What has changed is that when an accommodation or discrimination complaint is filed against an employer, the OHR will perform the initial mediation and investigation.

Plus, if it is determined that probable cause exists, a final determination regarding the employer’s violation will now be made by administrative law judges at the Commission on Human Rights rather than the Department of Employment Services.

What’s Next for DC?

On July 1, 2020, the District of Columbia will begin administering the Paid Family Leave (PFL) benefits under the Universal Paid Leave Amendment Act of 2016. Benefits will be paid through a quarterly employer payroll tax of 0.62% of total wages for covered employees. The program applies to all businesses in DC that also pay unemployment insurance taxes for their employees.

Employers should note that the District will start collecting payroll taxes from employers on July 1, 2019.

In addition, employers will be required to post a notice for the Paid Family Leave program, as well as provide written notice of PFL to all covered employees. We’ll be keeping our eyes peeled for the release of the official notice by DC’s Department of Employment Services.

Compliance Made Easy!

Because we are expecting another change for DC, we encourage you to order our 1-Year Compliance Plan. Under the plan, you will automatically receive the updated District of Columbia poster as soon as it is available. And because our plan provides free poster updates for mandatory changes, no matter how many occur during the 12-month period, you can always count on Poster Compliance Center to keep your business in compliance!