Amazon is dealing with allegations that it failed to supply affordable lodging to staff who’re pregnant in addition to these with disabilities. (Dreamstime/TNS)
ALBANY, N.Y. — A pregnant lady working for Amazon was injured on the job and compelled to take unpaid go away, in accordance with a brand new criticism filed by the New York State Division of Human Rights.
Gov. Hochul introduced this week that the state has filed a discrimination criticism in opposition to the web retailer, accusing the corporate of failing to supply affordable lodging to staff who’re pregnant and people with disabilities.
“My administration will maintain any employer accountable, no matter how massive or small, if they don’t deal with their staff with the dignity and respect they deserve,” Hochul stated in an announcement.
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The criticism accuses the corporate of forcing a pregnant employee to proceed lifting heavy gadgets regardless of granting an inexpensive lodging to keep away from lifting packages over 25 kilos.
In consequence, the lady suffered an damage on the job. Quite than modify the lady’s workload following the incident, Amazon pressured the worker into indefinite unpaid go away, the criticism claims.
One other employee confronted related pushback after requesting a modified work schedule due to a documented incapacity, the doc alleges.
The worker’s situation necessitated a particular sleep schedule, and the employee submitted supporting medical documentation together with the request, in accordance with the criticism.
The employee was swapping shifts with a co-worker with out objections from administration till an lodging guide beneficial a modified schedule, the authorized papers say.
Nonetheless, a piece website supervisor allegedly refused to implement the lodging with out a proof.
A 3rd employee who requested a discount of labor hours resulting from incapacity was denied an lodging, regardless of an preliminary approval, the criticism exhibits.
“For the reason that Nineteen Seventies — years earlier than the Individuals with Disabilities Act — New York State has prohibited discrimination in opposition to pregnant workers within the office,” stated Melissa Franco, the Human Rights Division’s deputy commissioner for enforcement. “The division will work to make sure that everybody in our state is totally afforded the rights and dignities that the regulation requires.”
The state is searching for a choice requiring Amazon to stop its allegedly discriminatory conduct and to undertake nondiscriminatory insurance policies and practices relating to the overview of requests for affordable lodging.
Amazon would even have to coach its workers on the provisions of the state Human Rights Regulation and pay civil fines and penalties.
A consultant for the retailer didn’t instantly reply to a request for remark.
The corporate, which pulled out of an enormous Queens company campus after political pushback in 2019, has weathered a number of labor-related storms just lately as staff sought to unionize at a pair of Staten Island amenities.
Earlier this month, staff at one Staten Island warehouse overwhelmingly rejected a union bid, a blow to organizers who efficiently unionized a bigger facility simply weeks earlier than.
The unionization effort was sparked by workers who protested the e-commerce large’s paltry pandemic-related office security precautions over the previous two years.
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