Today, the Office of Administrative Law (OAL) approved amendments to California’s pregnancy regulations proposed by the Fair Employment and Housing Commission (FEHC). The amendments take effect December 30, 2012. 

The approved pregnancy disability regulations make significant changes to state law, including:

• A change to the definition of “four months”
• An expanded definition of when a woman is “disabled by pregnancy”
• Clarification of an employer’s responsibilities regarding reasonable accommodation or transfer of employees affected by pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions 
• An expansion of protections to include that is unlawful to discriminate against or harass an applicant or employee based on “perceived pregnancy”
• Necessary changes to Notices “A” and “B,” which provide information for employees about their rights and responsibilities under pregnancy disability leave (Notice “A”) and the California Family Rights Act (Notice “B”)