Estimated read time: 2 minutes
What do you think about this?. Philadelphia City Council recently passed legislation similar to this.
The Bill: HB2135 Representative Morgan Cephas(D)
Title: Menopause and Perimenopause Workplace Protections and Accommodations Act
What Does it Mean: aims to provide workplace protections and reasonable accommodations for employees experiencing perimenopause and menopause.
Key Provisions:
- It would make it unlawful for employers to refuse an employee’s request for reasonable accommodations related to perimenopause/menopause symptoms, unless granting them would cause an undue hardship to the employer.
Examples of reasonable accommodations include:
- Temperature-controlled work environments
- Dress code flexibility
- Periodic rest breaks or a chair for those who stand for long periods
- Ergonomic furniture
- Assistance with heavy lifting
- Access to drinking water
- Uncompensated break time
- Temporary job restructuring
Employers would also be prohibited from denying employment opportunitiessolely because an employee requested such accommodations.
The Go Big Small Biz Network’s Position: OPPOSE, Why?
Small businesses often lack the resources and this could add unintended hurdles.
Here are just a few issues:
Financial Strain from Accommodations:
- Even “reasonable” changes aren’t always cheap. Ergonomic furniture? That could run $200-500 per employee. Temperature controls in an older building? Easily $1,000+ for HVAC tweaks or portable units. Assistance with heavy lifting might mean hiring temp help or reallocating tasks, which disrupts operations in a small team where everyone’s wearing multiple hats.
- If multiple employees request accommodations costs could stack up quickly.
Administrative and Compliance Burdens:
- Proving “undue hardship” requires documentation, interactive discussions, and potentially legal advice—
- Vague symptoms make it tricky: How do you verify “brain fog” or “anxiety” without invading privacy? This opens the door to potential misuse.
Operational Disruptions in Small Teams:
- Extra breaks or job restructuring sounds minor, but in a 5-10 person operation, it could mean covering shifts, delaying projects, or uneven workloads.
The Go Big Small Biz Network exists to prevent government overreach into small businesses. We are funded by our monthly subscribers of $19/monthly. Please Join the movement.
Any Questions? Email me, tracey@gobigsmallbiz.com
Thanks,
Tracey and Jeff Wakeen
