Amazon has been sued in the US over allegations that it discriminated against pregnant employees by denying workplace accommodations and penalising workers who took time off for pregnancy-related needs.
A proposed nationwide class action was filed in a federal court in Brooklyn by four former Amazon warehouse employees. The lawsuit alleges that the company denied pregnant workers basic accommodations, including access to chairs, water and bathroom breaks, as well as time off for prenatal appointments. It also alleges that employees were threatened with termination or dismissed after exceeding unpaid time-off limits and that Amazon sought medical documentation from workers requesting accommodations.
The plaintiffs claim these practices violate the federal Pregnant Workers Fairness Act and New York labour law. The lawsuit is seeking lost pay and benefits, punitive damages and an injunction against alleged discriminatory practices.
One of the plaintiffs, Willamina Barclay, alleged that she was taken to hospital after experiencing a pregnancy-related emergency while working at an Amazon warehouse in Rochester, New York, in June 2025. She claimed the company subsequently issued her a termination warning, citing her use of unpaid time off, and dismissed her five days later.
Amazon disputed the allegations. Reportedly, company spokesperson said the plaintiffs’ accounts contained inaccuracies and omitted important details. She added that Amazon provides pregnancy-related accommodations to tens of thousands of employees each year and approved more than 99.9 per cent of such requests over the past year.
The lawsuit follows similar legal action against Amazon. New Jersey sued the company in 2025, alleging discrimination against warehouse workers with disabilities or pregnancy-related needs, while New York filed a similar case in 2022. The New Jersey case is continuing after a state court rejected Amazon’s request to dismiss it in July.
