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Amazon accused of discrimination in New York – Reuters

New York Governor Kathy Hochul announced on Wednesday the Division of Human Rights filed a complaint against Amazon alleging that it discriminates against pregnant workers and workers with disabilities at its facilities.

Amazon would also require pregnant workers and workers with disabilities to take unpaid leave, rather than provide them with reasonable accommodations, according to the complaint.

The state cites several instances where Amazon allegedly failed to reasonably accommodate workers at its facilities. In one incident, a pregnant worker was given permission to avoid lifting packages over 25 pounds, but a manager refused to follow the accommodation, meaning the worker continued to lift heavy objects .

Amazon refused additional accommodations after the worker was injured, and they were later placed on “indefinite unpaid leave,” according to the complaint.

The division says Amazon does not provide reasonable accommodations, in part because it allows managers to override recommendations made by “lodging consultants,” whose job it is to assess and recommend accommodations.

Investigators say Amazon’s conduct violates state law human rights lawwhich prohibits discrimination against pregnant and disabled workers, among other factors, in the workplace.

They call on Amazon to “pay fines and civil penalties to New York State,” as well as cease discriminatory behavior and adopt non-discriminatory policies and practices regarding accommodation requests, among other remedies. .

Amazon’s labor practices, including its treatment of pregnant workers, have been criticized in the past. Amazon has faced lawsuits from female warehouse workers who alleged the company failed to house them after they were pregnant and then fired them for failing to meet performance standards, selon CNET.

And last September, six US senators wrote to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, urging the agency to investigate a “worrying pattern of abuse of pregnant employees” at Amazon warehouses. .

Amazon representatives did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

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