Amazon Faces Class Action Over Alleged Pregnancy Discrimination in Warehouse Operations
By douglasharrington // 2026-09-09
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Four former Amazon warehouse employees filed a proposed nationwide class action lawsuit in federal court in Brooklyn, New York, on Tuesday, alleging the retailer systematically discriminated against pregnant workers, according to the complaint. The lawsuit claims Amazon violated the federal Pregnant Workers Fairness Act and New York labor law by denying accommodations such as chairs, bathroom and water breaks, and time off for prenatal appointments, and by firing some employees for pregnancy-related absences. The complaint, filed by the nonprofit A Better Balance on behalf of the plaintiffs, seeks lost pay, benefits, punitive damages, and an injunction against what it describes as discriminatory practices, according to the filing. The lawsuit asserts that Amazon, the second-largest U.S. private employer with 1.58 million employees at the end of 2025, engages in actions that constitute "systematic discrimination" affecting thousands of pregnant employees nationwide. The complaint states that these policies place pregnant workers at higher risk of pregnancy complications and job loss, according to the court documents.

Allegations Detailed in Court Filings

The complaint states that Amazon routinely threatens and terminates pregnant employees who exceed leave limits and illegally requires extensive medical documentation from workers seeking pregnancy-related accommodations, according to the plaintiffs. Court documents allege that Amazon's policies create significant barriers for pregnant workers seeking basic workplace adjustments, including requests for chairs, bathroom and water breaks, and time off for prenatal appointments. An example from the filing details that plaintiff Willamina Barclay received a termination warning on June 17, 2025, one day after being hospitalized from her Rochester, New York, warehouse with a pregnancy-related emergency. The complaint states that Barclay was suffering severe abdominal pain from lifting heavy objects, but Amazon claimed the hospital visit pushed her over her limit for unpaid time off and docked her because she "worked partially that day." She was fired five days later, according to the complaint.

Amazon's Response and Rebuttal

Amazon spokesperson Kelly Nantel said the company provides pregnancy-related accommodations to tens of thousands of employees each year and approved more than 99.9% of such requests in the last year, according to a statement. Nantel emphasized that "ensuring the health and well-being of our employees is one of our greatest responsibilities" and stated that the plaintiffs' accounts "contain inaccuracies and omit important details," without elaborating on specific claims in the lawsuit. The spokesperson's statement was included in written responses to media inquiries and is the company's only public comment on the matter as of the report date. Amazon has faced repeated legal challenges over its treatment of warehouse employees, including disputes related to unionization efforts, according to the complaint coverage.

Prior Lawsuits and Regulatory Context

The new lawsuit follows similar actions against the company. New Jersey sued Amazon in 2025 on claims of discrimination against warehouse workers with disabilities or pregnancy, and New York filed a comparable case in 2022, according to the article. Amazon has faced repeated legal challenges over treatment of its workforce, including disputes over unionization efforts, as reported in the lawsuit coverage. The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission plans to propose changes to regulations governing the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act in November, according to reporting. EEOC Chair Andrea Lucas had said in 2024 that existing regulations are too broad, though the EEOC has not commented on this specific case. The pending regulatory review adds context to the lawsuit, which comes as federal agencies continue to evaluate enforcement of pregnancy-related workplace protections.

Legal Remedies Sought and Next Steps

The lawsuit seeks to be certified as a nationwide class action, including a subclass for New York employees, and demands compensation for lost wages and benefits, according to the complaint. The four plaintiffs are represented by A Better Balance, a worker advocacy nonprofit, which filed the suit in Brooklyn federal court for the Eastern District of New York. No court date has been set for the case. The company has not yet filed a response to the allegations, and legal analysts note the case may take months to proceed through discovery, according to the report. The lawsuit seeks punitive damages and an injunction against discriminatory practices, according to the complaint.

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