City Council approved the change on November 20, 2025, according to disabilityleavelaw.com, which reports the council voted to prohibit discrimination against employees based on those three conditions. The new requirements do not take effect immediately. Multiple outlets report the accommodation mandate kicks in on January 1, 2027, per HR Morning, which notes the Philadelphia measure takes effect the same day as a comparable Illinois law.
FOX 29 Philadelphia covered the shift this week, with anchors Alex and Jason speaking to attorney Amy Feldman and OB-GYN Dr. Robyn Faye about what the new law means for workers and employers. Feldman broke down the legal mechanics of the ordinance, while Faye, who practices at Jefferson Abington Hospital and specializes in menopause and sexual health according to The Inquirer, discussed the health side of the conversation, according to FOX 29 Philadelphia.
What Employers Will Be Required To Do
Once the law takes effect, Philadelphia employers must provide reasonable accommodations upon request when symptoms substantially interfere with an employee’s job functions, unless doing so would cause undue hardship, the disability leave law site reports. HR Morning lists examples cited in coverage of the new rules, including flexible scheduling, access to a temperature-controlled environment, additional or extended breaks, and temporary modifications of job duties. Those are described as potential accommodations rather than a fixed checklist employers must apply in every case.
The ordinance is notably broad in who it covers. The Inquirer reports there is no general small-business exemption, and the rules generally impact employers with as few as one employee. The amendment also expressly prohibits retaliation against employees for exercising their right to request accommodations, the same Inquirer report notes.
A Distinct Approach Among US Cities
Philadelphia’s ordinance stands out for how it frames the three conditions. The Inquirer describes the city’s distinctive feature as explicit coverage of menstruation, perimenopause and menopause without requiring a connection to pregnancy. The disability leave law site goes further, calling Philadelphia the first major American city to include all three among its list of protected classes…