Compliance

The decision goes beyond the scope of a November 2020 ruling in "Loeb v. Vantage Custom Classics," which allowed a plaintiff to proceed with a whistleblower suit related to COVID, said Christopher Eibeler, the plaintiff's lawyer.

Together, the PWFA (effective June 29, 2023) and the PUMP Act (Effective Jan. 1, 2023) are rare bipartisan laws aimed at enhancing protections for pregnant and nursing mothers in the workplace.

Called the Protect Reproductive Actions (PRO) Act, the bill states that local government cannot restrict a person's ability to exercise the "fundamental right" to reproductive freedom. However, it will have little immediate impact on access to abortion.

After a woman was denied life insurance benefits as the beneficiary in her late husband's policy, she sued his employer, who the judge said failed to meet its legal obligations by not informing her she could continue to pay premiums.

Many states and health plans are currently implementing new legislation, so it's more important than ever for self-insured employers and benefits advisors to be on their toes – swift and significant changes are afoot.

The new rule would create an "independent pathway" for women to get access to birth control at no cost, even if their employer objects on moral or religious grounds.