Amazon accused in proposed nationwide class action of violating Federal and New York worker-protection laws; claims that company regularly fires pregnant employees who …

​Amazon is facing a proposed nationwide class action lawsuit that accuses the retailer of systematically discriminating against thousands of pregnant employees. According to a report by the news agency Reuters, this includes the e-tailer giant firing some workers after they allegedly took too much time off.​Four former warehouse employees filed the lawsuit in federal court in Brooklyn, New York, alleging that Amazon routinely denied pregnant workers basic accommodations such as chairs, bathroom and water breaks and time off for prenatal appointments. The complaint claims the practices violate the federal Pregnant Workers Fairness Act and New York labour law.​

Amazon accused of violating pregnancy worker-protection laws

​A Better Balance, a nonprofit that advocates for workers’ rights, filed the lawsuit on September 8. The four plaintiffs allege that Amazon threatens and regularly fires pregnant employees who miss too much work and illegally requires medical documentation from workers seeking accommodations.​“Amazon is one of this country’s largest employers, [and] it is no surprise that many of its workers become pregnant,” according to the complaint filed in Brooklyn federal court. “Yet Amazon violates the law at every turn.”​The lawsuit seeks lost pay and benefits, punitive damages and an injunction preventing discrimination against pregnant employees. Amazon has disputed the plaintiffs’ accounts.​Kelly Nantel, an Amazon spokesperson, told news agency Reuters that the company provides pregnancy-related accommodations to tens of thousands of employees each year and approved more than 99.9% of requests in the last year. “Ensuring the health and well-being of our employees is one of our greatest responsibilities,” she said.​Nantel also said the four plaintiffs’ accounts “contain inaccuracies and omit important details.”​

Hospitalisation allegedly led to Amazon employee’s dismissal

​One of the plaintiffs, Willamina Barclay, said Amazon issued her a termination warning on June 17, 2025, one day after she was taken from its Rochester, New York, warehouse in a wheelchair and hospitalised following a pregnancy-related emergency.​Barclay said she had been experiencing severe abdominal pain after lifting heavy objects. According to the complaint seen by Reuters, Amazon claimed the hospital visit pushed her beyond her limit for unpaid time off and docked her because she “worked partially that day.”​The complaint added that Amazon fired her five days later. Her case is one of four accounts cited in the proposed class action to support allegations that Amazon’s attendance policies can penalise pregnant employees who need time away from work.​The lawsuit comes as Amazon faces other legal challenges over its treatment of employees. New Jersey sued the company 11 months earlier, accusing it of widespread discrimination against warehouse workers with disabilities or who were pregnant. New York filed a similar lawsuit against Amazon in 2022.​

Amazon is second-largest US private employer

​Amazon is the second-largest private employer in the United States, behind Walmart, with 1.58 million full-time and part-time employees at the end of 2025. Its workforce size means its workplace policies affect many employees nationwide.​The allegations in the new lawsuit focus specifically on pregnancy-related accommodations. Under the federal Pregnant Workers Fairness Act, covered employers are required to provide reasonable accommodations for known limitations related to pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions unless doing so would cause an undue hardship.​The plaintiffs allege that Amazon’s practices fail to meet those requirements, including when employees need basic workplace adjustments or time away for medical appointments. The claims have not been proven in court.​

EEOC plans changes to pregnancy-worker regulations

​The case is also unfolding as federal rules governing the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act face potential changes. The US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission plans to propose changes to the regulations in November.​The EEOC has aligned itself with US President Donald Trump’s policies, and EEOC Chair Andrea Lucas said in 2024 that the regulations covering pregnant employees are too broad. The agency did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the lawsuit.​Amazon’s legal disputes over workplace treatment extend beyond pregnancy accommodations. The company has also faced complaints and litigation involving employees seeking to unionise.​New Jersey’s separate lawsuit against Amazon is continuing after a state Superior Court judge rejected the company’s request to dismiss it on July 31, according to a spokesperson for New Jersey Attorney General Jennifer Davenport.​The proposed class action will now proceed through federal court, where the allegations against Amazon will be tested. The company has denied the accuracy of the four plaintiffs’ accounts, while the lawsuit seeks compensation and changes to Amazon’s treatment of pregnant workers.​