Amazon is facing a new lawsuit accusing the company of systematically discriminating against pregnant employees at its U.S. warehouses. The proposed nationwide class-action lawsuit was filed Tuesday in federal court in Brooklyn, New York, by four former warehouse workers.
According to the complaint, Amazon allegedly denied pregnant employees basic workplace accommodations, including access to chairs, bathroom and water breaks, and time off for prenatal medical appointments. The lawsuit also claims that Amazon threatened and fired pregnant workers who exceeded unpaid time-off limits.
The plaintiffs say these practices violate the federal Pregnant Workers Fairness Act (PWFA) and New York labor laws. The lawsuit also alleges that Amazon sometimes required medical documentation from workers requesting pregnancy-related accommodations.
“Amazon is one of this country’s largest employers, [and] it is no surprise that many of its workers become pregnant,” the complaint states. “Yet Amazon violates the law at every turn.”
Amazon has rejected the allegations. Kelly Nantel, an Amazon spokesperson, said the company provides pregnancy-related accommodations to tens of thousands of employees every year. She said Amazon approved more than 99.9% of accommodation requests in the last year.
“Ensuring the health and well-being of our employees is one of our greatest responsibilities,” Nantel said. She added that the accounts of the four plaintiffs “contain inaccuracies and omit important details.”
One plaintiff, Willamina Barclay, alleges that Amazon fired her shortly after a pregnancy-related medical emergency. According to the lawsuit, Barclay was hospitalized after experiencing severe abdominal pain while lifting heavy objects at an Amazon warehouse in Rochester, New York. She received a termination warning the following day and was fired five days later.
The lawsuit seeks lost wages and benefits, punitive damages, and an injunction preventing discrimination against pregnant employees.
The case comes as Amazon faces other legal challenges over workplace practices. New Jersey sued Amazon in 2025 over allegations involving pregnant and disabled warehouse workers, while New York filed a similar case in 2022.
The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission is also expected to propose changes to regulations under the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act in November.
