"Amazon accused of discrimination against pregnant and disabled workers in New York", 18 May 2022

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

Amazon also allegedly forces pregnant workers and workers with disabilities to take unpaid leaves of absence, rather than providing them with reasonable accommodations, according to the complaint...

Amazon denied additional accommodations after the worker was injured, and they were subsequently put on “indefinite unpaid leave,” the complaint alleges.

The division claims Amazon fails to provide reasonable accommodations, in part, because it allows managers to override recommendations made by “Accommodation Consultants,” whose job it is to evaluate and recommend accommodations.

Investigators claim Amazon’s conduct violates the state’s Human Rights Law, which prohibits discriminating against workers who are pregnant and disabled, among other factors, in the workplace.

They’re calling on Amazon to “pay civil fines and penalties to the State of New York,” as well as cease its discriminatory conduct, and adopt nondiscriminatory policies and practices concerning requests for accommodations, among other remedies.

Amazon spokesperson Kelly Nantel told CNBC in a statement that the company works to offer “the best available options to accommodate” employees with disabilities and expectant mothers and offers several programs “to ensure that’s the case.”

“We’re surprised by the governor’s announcement this morning because we’ve been cooperating and working closely with her investigator on this matter and had no indication a complaint was coming,” Nantel added. “Since we haven’t received the complaint ourselves yet, we’re not in a position to comment further.”...