Trying to make work easier for pregnant women in Philly

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You’re tired, your back and feet ache, but you have a couple of weeks more of work before you’re due to deliver your baby.

A Philadelphia City Councilman has introduced legislation to make the workplace more accommodating to pregnant women.

Councilman Bill Greenlee says his bill is designed to give pregnant women some extra breaks and concessions to help them while they’re expecting.

“Making reasonable breaks and assistance with manual labor so people aren’t forced to life heavy objects, not having to stand for long periods of time,” Greenlee said. “If there is a position available that is less onerous to transfer them to that temporary position, that kind of thing.”

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Greenlee says his bill is patterned to similar legislation approved in New York City. He does not think it will not cost businesses anything extra.

“Moving a stool over so a cashier can sit instead of stand doesn’t sound like an economic impact. Having a pregnant being able to sit a little bit longer and have a drink of water or a little bit longer rest period doesn’t sound like it would be an economic impact.”

Greenlee was the prime sponsor of a more ambitious workplace bill — one that would have demanded employers offer sick leave. But businesses successfully lobbied against it as too expensive.

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