RismadarVoice Reporters
September 8, 2026
Amazon has been sued in the United States over allegations that the company systematically discriminated against pregnant employees by denying workplace accommodations and punishing some workers for pregnancy-related absences.
The proposed nationwide class action lawsuit, filed in a federal court in Brooklyn, New York, by four former warehouse employees, accuses Amazon of violating federal and state labour protection laws, including the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act.
The complaint alleges that Amazon regularly denied pregnant workers basic accommodations such as access to chairs, bathroom and water breaks, and time off for prenatal medical appointments.
The lawsuit also claims that the company threatened and dismissed pregnant employees who exceeded limits on unpaid time off, while requiring medical documentation from workers seeking pregnancy-related adjustments.
“Amazon is one of this country’s largest employers, and many of its workers become pregnant, yet Amazon violates the law,” the complaint stated.
Amazon spokesperson Kelly Nantel rejected the allegations, saying the company provides pregnancy-related support to thousands of employees each year and approved more than 99.9% of accommodation requests in the past year.
“Ensuring the health and well-being of our employees is one of our greatest responsibilities,” Nantel said, adding that the accounts presented by the plaintiffs contained inaccuracies and omitted important details.
The lawsuit seeks compensation for lost wages and benefits, punitive damages, and a court order preventing alleged discrimination against pregnant employees.
One of the plaintiffs, Willamina Barclay, claimed she was dismissed shortly after being taken from an Amazon warehouse in Rochester, New York, to a hospital following a pregnancy-related emergency.
According to the lawsuit, Barclay experienced severe abdominal pain while lifting heavy items and was later warned that her hospital visit had pushed her beyond the company’s unpaid time-off limit. She was fired five days later, the complaint said.
Amazon disputed the claims, saying the details provided by the plaintiffs did not fully reflect the circumstances surrounding their cases.
The lawsuit comes nearly a year after New Jersey filed a separate case accusing Amazon of widespread discrimination against warehouse workers with disabilities or pregnancy-related needs. New York previously filed a similar case against the company in 2022.
Amazon, which is one of the largest private employers in the United States with about 1.58 million full-time and part-time employees at the end of 2025, has faced several legal challenges involving workplace conditions and labour practices.
The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission is also expected to review regulations related to the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act, which sets requirements for employers to provide reasonable accommodations to pregnant workers.
