New Jersey Takes Legal Action Against Amazon Over Alleged Discrimination Toward Pregnant and Disabled Warehouse Workers
The state of New Jersey has filed a lawsuit against Amazon, accusing the company of systematically discriminating against thousands of pregnant employees and workers with disabilities across its warehouses.
Filed in Essex County Superior Court by Attorney General Matthew Platkin’s office, the complaint claims Amazon violated New Jersey’s anti-discrimination laws by unfairly denying or delaying workplace accommodations for affected workers. The case follows a multi-year civil rights investigation into the company’s labor practices within the state.
Investigators allege that since October 2015, Amazon placed pregnant or disabled employees on unpaid leave instead of granting reasonable accommodations, such as lighter workloads or additional breaks. The lawsuit also accuses Amazon of retaliating against workers who requested accommodations—sometimes by terminating their employment.
“There is absolutely no justification for Amazon’s mistreatment of pregnant and disabled employees,” Attorney General Platkin said. “This unlawful behavior has caused serious harm to workers and must end immediately.”
Amazon, however, disputes the allegations. A company spokesperson stated that Amazon follows both federal and state labor laws, emphasizing its commitment to employee safety and well-being. The company said it approves more than 99% of pregnancy-related accommodation requests and does not automatically place pregnant workers on leave.
The complaint includes several examples, such as one in which a pregnant worker who was granted lighter duties was later fired for not meeting productivity targets. Another case describes a worker whose request for accommodation was wrongly closed, leading to disciplinary warnings and eventual termination.
While Amazon reinstated at least one employee with back pay following an internal review, state officials argue that such incidents reveal systemic discrimination that pushes vulnerable employees out of the company’s workforce.
The lawsuit seeks compensatory damages, civil penalties, and a court order requiring Amazon to reform its policies, undergo monitoring, and report its compliance for the next five years.
Amazon has previously faced similar scrutiny. In recent years, it has been the subject of multiple state and federal investigations into its treatment of pregnant and disabled warehouse workers. Despite this, the company maintains that its performance metrics are “safe, achievable, and consider tenure and peer performance.”
