New York: Amazon is facing a proposed nationwide class-action lawsuit accusing the company of systematically discriminating against pregnant employees, including allegedly denying basic workplace accommodations and dismissing workers who took time off for pregnancy-related needs.
Lawsuit alleges workers were denied basic support
The case, filed in federal court in Brooklyn, was brought by four former Amazon warehouse employees. The lawsuit alleges that pregnant workers were denied reasonable accommodations such as chairs, additional bathroom and water breaks, and time away from work for prenatal appointments.
The plaintiffs also allege that Amazon threatened or dismissed pregnant employees who exceeded limits on unpaid time off and required medical documentation for accommodation requests. The lawsuit claims these practices violate the federal Pregnant Workers Fairness Act and New York labour law.
Worker says hospitalisation led to dismissal
One plaintiff, Willamina Barclay, alleged that she received a termination warning after being taken by wheelchair from an Amazon warehouse in Rochester, New York, and hospitalised following a pregnancy-related emergency in June 2025.
According to the complaint, Amazon treated the hospital visit as an excessive unpaid absence and dismissed her five days after the warning. The allegations have not been established in court.
Amazon strongly disputes the allegations
Amazon spokesperson Kelly Nantel said the company provides pregnancy-related accommodations to tens of thousands of employees each year and approved more than 99.9 per cent of such requests during the previous year.
She said the accounts of the four plaintiffs contained inaccuracies and omitted important details, while stressing that employee health and wellbeing remain a major responsibility for the company.
Case adds to wider scrutiny
The lawsuit comes amid continuing legal scrutiny of Amazon’s workplace practices. New Jersey filed a case against the company last year alleging discrimination involving pregnant and disabled warehouse employees, while New York brought a similar case in 2022. New Jersey’s case remains ongoing after a judge rejected Amazon’s request for dismissal in July.
The latest case seeks lost wages and benefits, punitive damages and an order preventing alleged discriminatory practices. The litigation could place renewed attention on how large employers balance productivity requirements with the legal protections available to pregnant workers.