Giselle Gutierrez, employment attorney and founder of Exhibit G Law Firm, co-delivered a significant session on pregnancy protections during HR Miami's Legal Update Tour 2025 at the Biltmore Hotel. As a board member of HR Miami who helped plan the program, Gutierrez played a crucial role in shaping the event's educational focus on emerging employment issues affecting women in the workforce.
Gutierrez co-presented alongside Carmen Manrara Cartaya of Continental PLLC on the requirements of the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act (PWFA), providing employers and HR leaders with concrete strategies for compliance. The session addressed the rapidly evolving landscape of pregnancy protections and the rights of working mothers, offering practical guidance that HR professionals can implement immediately. Our workplaces are evolving, but pregnancy discrimination remains far too common, said Gutierrez during her presentation. The PWFA gives us a framework to truly support expecting and new mothers.
As an attorney recognized for her niche focus on pregnancy discrimination and postpartum accommodation rights, Gutierrez delivered clarity on an area of law that continues to gain national attention. Her presentation emphasized real-world solutions, from evaluating accommodation requests to avoiding common legal pitfalls, reinforcing her reputation as a trusted advocate for workers navigating pregnancy-related challenges. The session represented one of the day's most impactful presentations, addressing an area of employment law that affects millions of working women nationwide.
Beyond her presentation role, Gutierrez contributed to the development of the program's content as part of the HR Miami planning team. Her focus on emerging employment issuesparticularly those affecting women in the workforceshaped a program that delivered both relevance and depth to attendees. The legal update tour featured respected practitioners including Thomas Raine, Fabian Ruiz, David S. Harvey, and David Miklas, who provided insight on restrictive covenants, investigations, compliance risks, and employee litigation.
The session's importance extends beyond the conference room as employers nationwide grapple with implementing PWFA requirements. With pregnancy discrimination remaining a persistent workplace issue, the practical guidance offered by Gutierrez and Cartaya provides essential direction for organizations seeking to comply with federal protections while supporting working mothers. The presentation comes at a critical time when workplace accommodations for pregnant employees have become both a legal requirement and a business imperative for retaining talent.
