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Amazon is facing a lawsuit filed Wednesday by the New Jersey Attorney General, accusing the e-commerce giant of widespread discrimination against pregnant employees and workers with disabilities across its New Jersey facilities. The suit alleges violations of state anti-discrimination laws, potentially impacting thousands of workers.
The complaint, lodged in Essex County Superior Court by Attorney General Matthew Platkin’s office, centers on Amazon’s handling of accommodation requests from pregnant employees and those with disabilities. The state’s investigation, spanning several years and focusing on warehouse operations, claims a systemic failure to provide reasonable accommodations, often resulting in unpaid leave or outright denial of requests.
Specifically, the lawsuit claims that since October 2015, Amazon allegedly placed pregnant and disabled employees on unpaid leave when they requested accommodations, denied them reasonable accommodations and delayed its responses to workers’ requests. Furthermore, the state alleges “unlawful” retaliation, including termination, against workers who seek accommodations. Even after granting accommodations, the complaint alleges some employees were fired for failing to meet stringent productivity targets.
“There is no excuse for Amazon’s shameful treatment of pregnant workers and workers with disabilities,” Attorney General Platkin stated. “Amazon’s egregious conduct has caused enormous damage to pregnant workers and workers with disabilities in our state, and it must stop now.”
Amazon spokesperson Kelly Nantel refuted the allegations, stating, “Ensuring the health and well-being of our employees is our top priority, and we’re committed to providing a safe and supportive environment for everyone. These accusations are simply not true.” Nantel also indicated the company approves over 99% of pregnancy accommodation requests submitted by workers and denied automatically placing pregnant workers on leave or unjustifiably rejecting accommodation requests.
The lawsuit seeks unspecified compensatory damages, civil fines, and a court order compelling Amazon to revise its policies, submit to monitoring, and adhere to reporting requirements for the next five years. The case underscores the growing scrutiny surrounding labor practices within Amazon’s vast logistics network.
The complaint details specific instances, including a pregnant employee who, despite receiving accommodations for additional breaks and weight restrictions, was allegedly terminated for failing to meet quotas shortly after the accommodations were approved. Another case involved a pregnant employee whose accommodation request was closed due to missing paperwork, leading to warnings for “poor productivity” and subsequent termination, despite her efforts to resubmit the request.
While Amazon’s internal investigation reportedly did not confirm the firing was pregnancy-related, the company eventually reinstated the employee with backpay, an action the lawsuit highlights as insufficient remediation.
Amazon maintains that it does not have fixed quotas at its facilities. The company stated that it assesses performance “based on safe and achievable expectations and take into account time and tenure, peer performance, and adherence to safe work practices.” This explanation does little to quell criticism in the complaint that says, “Amazon’s discriminatory practices and systemic failure to accommodate pregnant workers and workers with disabilities have the effect of pushing these employees out of Amazon’s workforce — the precise outcome the [Law Against Discrimination] was intended to prevent.”
This lawsuit adds to a growing list of complaints against Amazon regarding its treatment of frontline workers.
These issues raise broader questions about the balance between efficiency demands and worker well-being in the fast-paced e-commerce sector. The outcome of the New Jersey lawsuit could set a precedent for how Amazon and other companies manage accommodation requests and ensure fair treatment for vulnerable employee populations. Amazon, for its part, will need to provide compelling evidence that its policies and practices align with both the letter and spirit of anti-discrimination laws to mitigate the potential reputational and financial damage from this legal challenge.
Amazon declined to comment on ongoing litigation.
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