Stakeholder comments to the EEOC on the proposed rules to carry out requirements of the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act (PWFA) grew from about 45,000 to over 100,000 between October 3-10, 2023. The most important comments arrived on the deadline day of October 10th.
Skilled participants in rulemaking don’t want their views to be known too quickly, otherwise opponents of these views may place comments on the public record that may weaken, defeat, or complicate their position. Once final rules are issued, in this case on or before December 29, 2023, rescinding or revising any rule becomes a lengthy and often difficult process.