Amazon Accused of Firing Worker Over Medical Leave Dispute, Blocking Rehire for Five Years

A former Amazon warehouse worker claims she was fired over disputed medical leave paperwork and subsequently blocked from rehire for five years, according to a new lawsuit.

The worker, who has Bipolar II Disorder and Generalized Anxiety Disorder, requested leave in mid-2024 due to severe symptoms caused by a newly prescribed medication. Amazon's Disability and Leave Services team flagged the paperwork, citing inconsistent wording and format, and opened an investigation.

The complaint alleges that Amazon gave the worker only three calendar days to produce verification from her provider, far short of the seven days allowed under the law, and contacted her doctor before she could correct the issue. The worker claims she scrambled to get supplemental records sent but was hospitalized in August 2024.

Amazon approved several stretches of medical leave and short-term disability benefits on September 3, 2024, but fired the worker three days later for allegedly falsifying leave documentation. A five-year no-rehire label was attached to the termination, which the worker claims was applied automatically without individualized review.