Guided by our Mission and values, Providence is committed to caring for our caregivers, including supporting caregiver health and workplace accommodations. We strive to fully apply and comply with all relevant federal, state and local laws and regulations governing pregnancy-related health needs and accommodations. We take concerns in this area seriously and continually work to strengthen our policies, training and processes so our caregivers are supported.
We engaged in discussions with the Attorney General’s office about compliance with Washington’s Healthy Starts law, which addresses pregnancy and postpartum accommodations. While we attempted to have a meaningful exchange, the office refused to share meaningful information that would allow us to understand their assertions, address any individual concerns and further refine our processes to better serve caregivers.
We remain committed to working in good faith to reach an appropriate resolution of any issues and are disappointed by the State’s focus on litigation rather than collaborative efforts to help caregivers. We care deeply about providing a safe, supportive workplace for parents, including paid parental leave benefits, pregnancy-related accommodations and the necessary flexibility when parents return to work after the birth (or adoption) of a child.