Amazon Sued in New York for Systemic Discrimination Against Pregnant Workers
Four former Amazon warehouse employees filed a proposed national class action in Brooklyn federal court on September 9, alleging the e-commerce giant systematically discriminated against thousands of pregnant workers. The lawsuit claims Amazon denied basic accommodations, threatened and fired workers for absences, and illegally demanded medical documentation, violating the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act and New York labor law. Amazon said it approved over 99.9% of pregnancy-related accommodation requests in 2025.
On September 9, e-commerce giant Amazon was accused of systematically discriminating against thousands of pregnant employees. The lawsuit, filed on Tuesday in Brooklyn federal court in New York, is intended to proceed as a nationwide class action. According to the complaint submitted by four former warehouse workers, Amazon frequently violated U. S. federal and New York state worker protection laws by refusing to provide basic accommodations for pregnant employees, such as offering chairs, permitting bathroom breaks and water access, and allowing time off for prenatal appointments. The complaint also alleged that Amazon threatened and often terminated pregnant employees who had excessive absences, while unlawfully requiring workers requesting accommodations to submit medical documentation, in violation of the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act and New York state labor law.
Plaintiff Willamina Barclay stated in the complaint that she received a termination warning on June 17, 2025, one day after she was wheeled out of a warehouse in Rochester, New York, and hospitalized due to a pregnancy-related emergency. Barclay said she suffered severe abdominal pain from lifting heavy objects, but Amazon counted her hospitalization against her unpaid leave limit, deducted her hours because she "only worked half a day," and fired her five days later.
Amazon spokesperson Kelly Nantel responded that the company provides pregnancy-related accommodations to tens of thousands of employees each year, approving over 99.9% of requests in 2025, and emphasized that ensuring employee health and well-being is one of the company's most important responsibilities. The lawsuit seeks compensation for lost wages and benefits, punitive damages, and a court injunction prohibiting discrimination against pregnant employees. Amazon has long faced complaints over its treatment of workers, including those seeking to form unions. As of the end of 2025, Amazon employed 1.58 million full-time and part-time workers, making it the second-largest private employer in the United States, behind Walmart.