On May 23, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission issued a 15-page guidance as well as a Q&A offering background and information on the determination and enforcement of caregiver discrimination.

The EEOC notes that as more mothers have entered the labor force, there have been increased conflicts between work and family responsibilities, "sometimes resulting in a 'maternal wall' that limits the employment opportunities of workers with caregiving responsibilities," according to the EEOC guidance.

"Although some employment decisions that adversely affect caregivers may not constitute unlawful discrimination based on sex or another protected characteristic, the commission strongly encourages employers to adopt best practices to make it easier for all," it states