Amazon accused in lawsuit of systematic pregnancy discrimination

Amazon.com Inc. has been named as a defendant in a proposed class-action lawsuit filed in a Brooklyn, New York federal court, accusing the e-commerce giant of systematically discriminating against pregnant warehouse workers. The legal complaint asserts that the company routinely breached both federal and New York State labor protection statutes by failing to provide reasonable accommodations. The lawsuit, initiated by four former warehouse employees, alleges that Amazon regularly denied basic accommodations such as chairs, adequate water and bathroom breaks, and necessary leave for prenatal medical appointments. Furthermore, the plaintiffs claim that Amazon maintained practices of threatening and terminating pregnant staff members who required time off, while imposing burdensome medical documentation requirements on accommodation requests. The plaintiffs are seeking substantial financial remedies, including back pay, lost employment benefits, and punitive damages. The litigation presents potential headline and regulatory risks for Amazon, whose shares dropped over 1.2% during trading following the development.