Amazon Sued Over Alleged Discrimination Against Pregnant Workers
Amazon has been accused of discriminating against thousands of pregnant workers by firing or retaliating against those who sought extra accommodations. Four former Amazon employees have filed a class-action lawsuit in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York, alleging that Amazon violated federal and state laws.
The Pregnant Workers Fairness Act requires employers to provide reasonable workplace adjustments for pregnancy, childbirth, and related medical conditions. However, according to the complaint, Amazon denied basic modifications such as bathroom breaks and extra time off for the plaintiffs, who were all hourly warehouse workers.
Amazon's policy of requiring medical paperwork for every pregnancy-related accommodation request was also cited in the lawsuit as a barrier for pregnant employees. The company deducted unpaid time off from the women when they took medically necessary breaks or absences, and eventually terminated them when their balance fell below zero.