This Law Firm Publication by Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak & Stewart, P.C. discusses new pregnancy discrimination and accommodation amendments to the Illinois Human Rights Act (IHRA). The amendments, signed into law on August 25, 2014 by Governor Pat Quinn, impose an obligation on all employers to provide reasonable accommodations to job applicants and employees affected by pregnancy, childbirth or related conditions. The new protections include specific accommodations such as more frequent bathroom breaks, assistance with manual labor and part-time or modified work schedules, as well as job restoration rights. While an employer cannot force a protected employee to accept an unwanted accommodation, it can require medical proof that the employee needs a requested accomodation, if the request is job-related and consistent with business necessity. Under the new amendments, an employer can only refuse to provide a reasonable accommodation by demonstrating that the accommodation would cause undue hardship on the ordinary operation of business. The amendments take effect on January 1, 2015.