Pregnancy Discrimination Act

Pregnancy Discrimination Act is a 1978 amendment to Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. The Act prohibits discrimination against employees on the basis of pregnancy, childbirth, or pregnancy-related medical conditions. The Act amended 42 U.S.C. § 2000e to clarify that discrimination “because of sex” or “on the basis of sex” includes discrimination based on pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions. It further requires that individuals affected by these conditions be treated the same as other employees similar in their ability or inability to work. The statute expressly provides that employers are not required to pay for health insurance benefits for abortion, except where the life of the pregnant employee would be endangered.

Title VII, including the Pregnancy Discrimination Act, is enforced by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), which investigates complaints and brings enforcement actions related to unlawful employment discrimination. In addition to Title VII, the EEOC enforces other federal laws intended to protect workers against pregnancy discrimination, including the Pregnant Worker Fairness Act and the American with Disabilities Act. 

[Last reviewed in January of 2026 by the Wex Definitions Team] 

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