BUFFALO, N.Y. — Amazon is facing a new proposed nationwide class action accusing the company of systematically discriminating against pregnant warehouse workers, as a separate New York state complaint against the company remains unresolved more than four years after it was filed.
Four former Amazon warehouse workers filed the federal lawsuit Sept. 8 in the Eastern District of New York. The plaintiffs accuse Amazon of denying or delaying basic pregnancy related accommodations and penalizing some workers for taking pregnancy related breaks or absences.
One of the plaintiffs, Jennifer Hatch, worked at Amazon’s Lancaster facility processing customer returns.
According to the complaint, Hatch learned she was pregnant in January 2025 and was later classified as having a high-risk pregnancy. The lawsuit says she requested a 30-pound lifting restriction, sitting breaks and a maximum eight-hour shift.
The complaint alleges Amazon delayed or denied those accommodations and later deducted from Hatch’s unpaid time balance after she left work early on several occasions for pregnancy-related hospital visits. She was eventually fired after her unpaid time balance became negative, according to the lawsuit.
The allegations have not been proven in court.
Katherine Greenberg, an attorney with A Better Balance representing the four plaintiffs, said the organization believes the women’s experiences reflect a broader problem.
“As we allege in our complaint, we see a systemic pattern of Amazon punishing pregnant warehouse workers requesting basic accommodations,” Greenberg told Spectrum News.
The lawsuit relies in part on the federal Pregnant Workers Fairness Act, which Congress passed in 2022. The law requires covered employers to provide reasonable accommodations for known limitations related to pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions unless doing so would create an undue hardship for the employer.
Amazon denies the allegations.
In a statement to Spectrum News, Amazon spokesperson Kelly Nantel said the company supports tens of thousands of workers with pregnancy accommodations each year.
“Ensuring the health and well being of our employees is one of our greatest responsibilities, and we strive to provide a safe and supportive environment for everyone, which includes supporting tens of thousands of employees with pregnancy accommodations each year,” Nantel said. “In the past year, more than 99.9% of pregnancy related accommodations requests have been approved.”
Nantel added that “the accounts shared by A Better Balance contain inaccuracies and omit important details” and said Amazon reviews each employee’s situation individually.
The company also said its accommodations policies comply with the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act and called any suggestion that it does not follow federal law “false and misleading.”
When asked what Amazon’s 99.9% approval figure misses, Greenberg said, “Well, I’ll tell you that doesn’t reflect what we’ve heard from clients.”
The new federal lawsuit comes as New York continues to pursue its own action involving Amazon’s treatment of pregnant workers and workers with disabilities.
In May 2022, the New York State Division of Human Rights filed a complaint alleging Amazon denied reasonable accommodations to pregnant workers and workers with disabilities and maintained policies that forced some employees onto unpaid leave instead of allowing them to continue working with accommodations.
The Division later issued a probable cause determination in that case, meaning the agency found enough evidence for the complaint to continue through its administrative process.
That complaint remains pending.
In a statement to Spectrum News, the Division said New York law prohibits employers from discriminating against pregnant workers or employees with disabilities.
“No New Yorker should have to choose between starting a family, looking out for their health, or maintaining their livelihood,” the Division said. “Under New York’s nation leading Human Rights Law, it is illegal for any employer in the state, no matter how large or how small, to discriminate against pregnant workers or employees with disabilities.”
The Division added that “as our ongoing complaint against Amazon demonstrates, the Division of Human Rights remains committed to vigorously enforcing these important protections and ensuring that every workplace in New York State treats its employees with the dignity and respect they deserve.”
The agency said its 2022 complaint alleges Amazon discriminates against pregnant workers and workers with disabilities by denying reasonable accommodations and by maintaining policies that force workers onto unpaid leave instead of allowing them to continue working with accommodations.
The Division said it cannot comment further because the complaint remains pending.
Under the state’s Human Rights Law process, a probable cause determination is not a final finding that discrimination occurred. A case can proceed to a public hearing before an administrative law judge, who can make recommendations before the Division’s commissioner issues a final order.
The new federal case is still in its early stages.
The plaintiffs are seeking damages and changes to Amazon’s policies and are asking the court to certify national and New York classes of similarly situated workers.
No class has yet been certified.
Amazon says it does not tolerate discrimination or retaliation and maintains that its pregnancy accommodation policies comply with federal law.