Amazon to Comply with EEOC Subpoena in Pregnancy Discrimination Probe
A federal judge in New York has ordered Amazon to comply with a subpoena from the United States Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.
A New York federal judge has mandated that Amazon comply with a subpoena from the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), which is investigating allegations of discrimination against pregnant warehouse workers.
Details of the Investigation:
U.S. District Judge Lorna Schofield in Manhattan rejected Amazon’s argument that the EEOC’s subpoena was overly broad and irrelevant.
The EEOC is requesting information on accommodation requests made by pregnant workers at five U.S. warehouses, including requests for lighter duties and additional breaks and whether these were granted or denied.
Amazon spokesperson Sam Stephenson Response:
Amazon spokesperson Sam Stephenson stated that the company has been cooperating with the EEOC’s investigation since it began three years ago. He emphasized that Amazon is committed to supporting its pregnant employees and their partners, providing benefits and time off. “We take this issue very seriously and look forward to showing why the EEOC’s concerns are unfounded,” Stephenson said.
Background of the Case:
The EEOC’s investigation was initiated following complaints from five women who claimed they faced pregnancy discrimination while working at Amazon warehouses in New Jersey, Connecticut, North Carolina, and California. Amazon reported that it supplied the EEOC with approximately 370,000 pages of data, although not in the format the EEOC requested.
Judge Schofield ruled that the information requested in the subpoenas is crucial for determining whether Amazon engaged in illegal discrimination. She has given Amazon until August 9 to comply with the subpoena. An EEOC spokesman refused to remark on the ruling.
Related Cases:
In 2022, a New York state agency filed an administrative complaint against Amazon, accusing it of forcing pregnant and disabled warehouse workers to take unpaid leaves of absence rather than providing necessary accommodations. This case is still pending. Amazon has denied any wrongdoing, stating that while they strive to support their workers, “we don’t always get it right.”
Last year, the EEOC’s subpoena sought five categories of information, including data on accommodations provided to warehouse workers with disabilities. At that time, federal law required companies to offer the same concessions to pregnant workers as they did to employees with disabilities.
