Louisiana Court Vacates EEOC Abortion Accommodation Rule

Recent legal and regulatory developments have significantly impacted equal employment and abortion accommodation policies. In Washington, Governor Bob Ferguson signed SSB 5408, amending the Equal Pay and Opportunities Act to introduce a cure period for employers to fix pay range and benefits information deficiencies in job postings, alongside a sliding scale for statutory damages. Meanwhile, federal workplace discrimination adjudication is shifting as EEOC Acting Chair Andrea Lucas issued memos barring monetary sanctions against federal agencies and emphasizing the presumption of innocence in bias allegations. In a notable ruling, a Louisiana federal judge vacated the EEOC's 2024 rule that required employers to provide accommodations for abortion-related medical conditions under the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act, stating that the EEOC exceeded its authority and that abortion is not a pregnancy-related medical condition covered by the law. The decision aligns with challenges by states and religious organizations and reflects the post-Dobbs legal landscape, where congressional intent did not include abortion accommodations in the PWFA. This ruling forces the EEOC to revise its regulations, highlighting federalism concerns and limits on agency authority in politically sensitive areas.