Ohio Civil Rights Commission approves unpaid maternity leave
Thursday, October 25, 2007 1:05 By James Nash THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH Nearly every worker in Ohio who becomes pregnant would be entitled to 12 weeks off under a policy approved this morning by the Ohio Civil Rights Commission. Only employers with four or fewer employees or that can demonstrate “economic necessity” would be exempt from the pregnancy-leave requirement, which could take effect before the end of the year. In a 4-1 vote, the Civil Rights Commission concluded that giving women fewer than 12 weeks off would amount to discrimination because other workers sidelined for medical reasons get at least that much time off. Since 1977, state law has held that women are allowed “reasonable” time off for pregnancy, although it has not defined what reasonable is. Commission lawyer Matthew Miko said the vagueness created confusion for employers and employees. “They have to treat pregnant women the same as other employees who are limited in their ability to work,” Miko said. You can read the rest of this article on the Dispatch Politics website.
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