On June 24, 2025, Rhode Island Governor Daniel McKee signed into law House Bill No. 6161, making Rhode Island the first state in the nation to expressly require employers to provide workplace accommodations for applicants and employees experiencing menopause and related medical conditions unless the employer can demonstrate that the accommodation would pose an undue hardship on the employer’s business operations.
This groundbreaking legislation amends the section of the Rhode Island Fair Employment Practices Act requiring employers to provide a reasonable accommodation for an applicant’s or employee’s condition related to pregnancy, childbirth, and related medical conditions to require accommodation of menopause and related medical conditions, effective as of June 24, 2025. The law amends the definition of “related conditions” to include “the need to manage the effects of vasomotor symptoms”—commonly referred to as “hot flashes” and “night sweats.” Notably, however, the drafters of the law did not amend the definition of “reasonably accommodate,” which remains focused on accommodations related to pregnancy, childbirth, and related medical conditions. At this time, it is unclear whether the definition of “reasonably accommodate” will be amended to list potential accommodations for menopause and related conditions.
Effective June 24, 2025, employers are now required to engage in a timely, good-faith, and interactive process to identify reasonable accommodations for...
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