New Jersey sues Amazon for alleged discrimination against pregnant workers

The New Jersey Attorney General has launched a lawsuit against Amazon, accusing the retail giant of infringing on the rights of numerous pregnant employees and workers with disabilities across its state facilities. The complaint, filed in Essex County Superior Court by Attorney General Matthew Platkin's office, claims that Amazon has violated state anti-discrimination laws regarding how it addresses requests for work accommodations from these employees. This legal action follows an extensive investigation by the state's civil rights division, which scrutinized Amazon's practices in its New Jersey warehouses over several years. The findings suggest that since October 2015, the company has placed pregnant and disabled employees on unpaid leave when they sought accommodations, denied reasonable requests, and delayed responses unreasonably. The lawsuit contends that Amazon has also engaged in retaliation against those who requested accommodations, including terminations. One particularly troubling incident highlighted in the complaint involves a pregnant worker who was fired shortly after receiving an accommodation that limited her lifting to items weighing no more than 15 pounds. Despite the approved accommodation requiring her to pack fewer items, she was reportedly dismissed for not meeting productivity targets. In another case, a pregnant employee's request for accommodation was closed due to insufficient medical paperwork, despite the required documents not being necessary. This led to her receiving multiple warnings for productivity issues before ultimately being terminated for not meeting performance rates, even while attempting to resubmit her accommodation request. Attorney General Platkin criticized Amazon's treatment of its employees, stating, "There is no excuse for Amazon's shameful treatment of pregnant workers and workers with disabilities. Their egregious conduct has caused immense harm, and it must cease immediately." Amazon's spokesperson, Kelly Nantel, countered the allegations, insisting that the company adheres to federal and state laws, including New Jersey's anti-discrimination statutes. Nantel emphasized that the health and well-being of employees are paramount and claimed that over 99% of pregnancy accommodation requests are approved. The lawsuit seeks unspecified compensatory damages and civil penalties, alongside court orders to revise Amazon's policies and comply with monitoring and reporting obligations over the next five years. This lawsuit is not the first to address Amazon's treatment of its pregnant workforce, as the company has faced scrutiny and prior investigations from various bodies, including the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, following concerns raised by lawmakers regarding patterns of mistreatment. As the second-largest private employer in the United States, Amazon's practices regarding its workforce, particularly concerning pregnant employees, have come under increasing scrutiny, with previous complaints filed by human rights organizations highlighting similar issues.