Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin and the New Jersey Division on Civil Rights (DCR) have filed a lawsuit in New Jersey Superior Court against Amazon, alleging the company has engaged in a systematic pattern of discrimination against pregnant workers and workers with disabilities in its warehouses throughout the state.
The complaint follows a multi-year investigation by DCR into Amazon’s employment practices at dozens of New Jersey warehouses. The state alleges that Amazon, which employs around 50,000 workers in New Jersey, has repeatedly violated the New Jersey Law Against Discrimination (LAD) by denying reasonable accommodations, placing employees on unpaid leave, retaliating against those who request accommodations, and terminating employees who could not meet the company’s productivity standards due to their pregnancy or disability.
“Put simply, Amazon has exploited pregnant workers and workers with disabilities in its New Jersey warehouses. In building a trillion-dollar business, Amazon has flagrantly violated their rights and ignored their well-being – all while it continues to profit off their labor,” said Attorney General Platkin. “There is no excuse for Amazon’s shameful treatment of pregnant workers and workers with disabilities. Amazon’s egregious conduct has caused enormous damage to pregnant workers and workers with disabilities in our state, and it must stop now.”
According to DCR’s findings, Amazon receives thousands of requests for accommodations from pregnant and disabled workers annually. In a recent two-year span, there were over 27,000 such requests from warehouse employees in New Jersey alone. The complaint asserts that instead of providing required accommodations or engaging in a meaningful interactive process with employees, Amazon often placed these employees on unpaid leave or denied requests based on rigid internal deadlines for medical documentation.
The complaint also describes cases where employees were terminated soon after requesting accommodations, or were disciplined and fired for not meeting productivity metrics even after being granted accommodations that limited their work capacity.
“New Jersey’s civil rights laws exist to shield people living and working in our state from discrimination, and the Law Against Discrimination offers strong worker protections that extend beyond what is granted under federal law,” said DCR Director Yolanda N. Melville. “But Amazon has engaged in practices that had dire financial and health consequences for pregnant and disabled workers in New Jersey. Today’s complaint underscores our commitment to protecting people working in our state.”
The state is seeking an injunction to prevent further discriminatory practices by Amazon, as well as civil monetary penalties, punitive damages, and compensatory damages for affected individuals.
This legal action follows a previous suit brought by Attorney General Platkin and the New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development against Amazon and its logistics network, which alleged misclassification of Flex delivery drivers as independent contractors.
The DCR, which enforces anti-discrimination laws in employment, housing, and public accommodations, encourages those seeking more information or wishing to file a complaint to visit its website.
