Amazon is reportedly facing a lawsuit in the US after a former employee alleged that the company violated the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) by terminating his employment despite approving his leave to care for his wife.
The complaint, filed in the US District Court for the Northern District of Indiana, claims the employee was granted intermittent FMLA leave in February 2026. The approval initially allowed him to take up to two days of leave each month, which was later increased to four days, along with up to two hours of delayed reporting time per day when required. The approval also covered certain absences dating back to the previous November.
According to the lawsuit, Amazon’s attendance records failed to correctly reflect the approved leave, resulting in the employee being shown with a negative leave balance. The plaintiff alleged that despite repeatedly approaching the company’s HR team to correct the records, the errors remained unresolved.
The employee further claimed that Amazon later terminated his employment based on the inaccurate attendance records. The lawsuit alleges that the dismissal amounted to interference with FMLA rights and retaliation for exercising those rights.
Following his termination, the employee appealed the decision through Amazon’s ethics process. He alleged that although he submitted documentation supporting his case, the review relied primarily on a phone conversation rather than a detailed examination of the records. The complaint also states that while Amazon informed him he would receive a further explanation regarding the termination, no such communication was provided.
The plaintiff is seeking monetary damages and has requested a jury trial.
Under US labour regulations, employers may designate leave as FMLA retroactively, provided employees are notified and the decision does not cause them harm. Employers may face legal liability if delays or errors in administering FMLA leave result in adverse consequences for employees.
Meanwhile, Amazon strongly disagrees with the allegations in this case. The complaint has apparently just been filed and Amazon hasn’t yet been served.
According to Haley Silva, Amazon spokesperson, “Amazon follows the law and cares deeply about our employees, including their right to take protected leave”.
