New year, new laws: The biggest employment policy changes coming in 2023

Published January 31, 2023 10:50 AM EST 2 Min Read

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It’s a new year, and a new series of laws are poised to potentially change the relationship employees have with work. Are employers prepared?

In the wake of a turbulent few years, employees expect more support from work, in support of both their personal and professional lives. As a result, over a dozen new labor laws, rules and regulations will impact 2023, including policies surrounding wage equity and expanded healthcare benefits.

The Pregnant Workers Fairness Act prohibits employers from denying reasonable accommodations — such as a lighter workload, intermittent breaks or even seating changes — for employees experiencing pregnancy, childbirth recovery and related medical conditions.

“There was a real gap in the laws because a routine pregnancy was not considered a disability under the Americans with Disabilities Act — even if you had serious complications, none of the protections applied,” Robertson says. “The new federal law goes further than the ADA.”

Paola Peralta

Associate Editor

Paola Peralta is an Associate Editor at Employee Benefit News and has been with the team for five years. She is a proud UCF journalism graduate who got her start through a Dow Jones News Fund … Read full bio

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