Labor & Employment Law Daily Wrap Up, LITIGATION NEWS, TRENDS—Putative class of Amazon warehouse workers allege employer punished pregnant workers for requesting accommodations, (Sep 10, 2026)

By Brandi O. Brown, J.D.

According to the organization representing the workers, the lawsuit “is the first of its kind and details the devastating consequences” of Amazon’s practices.

This week, A Better Balance (a national workers’ rights advocacy organization), along with a civil rights law firm, announced the filing of a class action suit in a New York federal court against Amazon on behalf of three named plaintiffs and a putative class of Amazon warehouse workers, contending the employer engaged in a “systemic pattern of punishing pregnant warehouse workers for requesting basic accommodations they are legally entitled to receive under the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act.”

Denied breaks, fired after emergencies. One employee contends that Amazon denied her requests for basic accommodations, such as short breaks and permission to sit, and then fired her after a pregnancy-related hospitalization. Another employee alleges Amazon denied her request for brief sitting breaks or the use of a chair, and that it fired her following a pregnancy-related medical emergency. A third employee alleges Amazon repeatedly penalized her for pregnancy-related breaks and accommodations and ultimately fired her for legally protected time she spent pumping breast milk. A fourth employee alleges Amazon denied her request for additional restroom breaks and permission to sit while working, then fired her for missing work when she was forced onto leave because of Amazon’s refusal to accommodate her.

All four workers brought claims under the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act. The suit alleges systemic, company-wide failures at Amazon, claiming that when pregnant workers seek basic accommodations like sitting or additional restroom or water breaks, they face delays or denials, receive deductions from their bank of unpaid time off, and then ultimately are penalized up to and including being forced out of their jobs. A Better Balance contends that it fielded dozens of calls from pregnant Amazon employees claiming that the employer had denied them basic accommodations such as chairs, breaks, and time off for prenatal appointments.

“The Pregnant Workers Fairness Act became law years ago. Amazon should have well-established policies to comply with federal law. But, as our lawsuit details, Amazon regularly violates the law. Under its policies, pregnant workers are not protected, and they face retaliation for exercising their rights. Too often, pregnant women working at Amazon warehouses have to risk their health or their pregnancy just to do their jobs,” said Debbie Greenberger, a partner at Emery Celli Brinckerhoff Abady Ward & Maazel, LLP, which is acting as co-counsel with the nonprofit organization.

EEOC finding. The lawsuit follows a finding by the EEOC with regard to one of the named plaintiffs that there was reasonable cause to believe Amazon had systemically violated the PWFA by failing to accommodate pregnancy-related limitations nationwide.

“No corporation is above the law, not even Amazon. The Pregnant Workers Fairness Act was designed to end the cruel choice many women have faced between a healthy pregnancy and a paycheck. Our clients’ experiences show why this protection is so necessary. We are proud to stand behind them as they fight to hold one of our nation’s largest employers accountable,” said Inimai Chettiar, President of A Better Balance.

The case is No. 1:26-cv-05531.

Companies: Amazon.com Services, LLC; Amazon

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