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Employers are legally required to accommodate workers’ medical and pregnancy-related needs without punishment or retaliation. The New Jersey Attorney General recently sued Amazon.com, Inc., alleging that the company discriminated against pregnant and disabled warehouse workers by refusing reasonable accommodations and, in some cases, firing workers for requesting them.
Workers reportedly asked for accommodations such as modified duties or brief time off. Instead of engaging in an interactive process to find a reasonable accommodation, Amazon allegedly applied a rigid, complicated procedure and retaliated against its workers, in violation of New Jersey and federal law.
The lawsuit claims that Amazon:
- Immediately placed pregnant and disabled employees who requested accommodations on unpaid leave;
- Refused to consider alternative accommodations;
- Imposed burdensome medical documentation requirements that delayed and complicated the process;
- Continued to enforce demanding production quotas, setting employees up for failure; and
- Retaliated against employees who requested accommodations, by disciplining or firing them soon after.
Florida workers have similar protections under the Florida Civil Rights Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act and the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act. These laws require employers to provide reasonable accommodations to disabled or pregnant workers and prohibit retaliation. Employers can only avoid providing accommodations if doing so would impose an undue hardship.
If you are pregnant, recovering from childbirth, or managing a medical condition, you have the right to:
- Request reasonable accommodations that allow you to perform your job, such as modified duties, schedule changes, or temporary leave.
- Have your employer engage in a good-faith, interactive process to find a workable solution.
- Be free from retaliation because you requested or used an accommodation.
Pregnancy and disability accommodations are not “special treatment.” They are legal protections designed to allow employees to keep working safely and support themselves and their families.
If your employer denied you a reasonable accommodation or penalized you for a pregnancy or medical condition, you may have legal rights and options. You can schedule a consultation with Amanda here to learn more.
