Amazon Sued for Denying Pregnant Workers Bathroom Breaks

Four former Amazon warehouse workers filed a class-action lawsuit this week, saying the company refused them the simplest things a pregnant worker might need: extra bathroom breaks, a 15-minute rest, or the option to sit instead of stand all shift. The women — Willamina Barclay, Kristina Green, Jennifer Hatch, and Dazaria Parks — all worked at Amazon facilities in New York and all became pregnant while employed there. When they asked for these changes, the lawsuit says, Amazon demanded doctor's notes for every request, even ones the law says don't require paperwork.

That paperwork mattered. Early in pregnancy, getting a doctor's note can take weeks. Meanwhile, the women say they were docked unpaid time off for medical appointments and emergency room visits. Once that limited pool of unpaid leave ran out, Amazon threatened to fire them — and the lawsuit says all four were eventually terminated.

The case has unusual weight because of a 2022 federal law called the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act. It requires employers to provide reasonable accommodations for pregnancy unless doing so would be a serious burden. In 2024, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission — the agency that enforces the law — specifically said employers should not demand documentation for things like water breaks, bathroom breaks, and sitting while working. The EEOC has already found reason to believe Amazon discriminated against a nationwide group of pregnant warehouse workers, and gave two of the women permission to sue.

Amazon says the lawsuit contains inaccuracies and denies breaking federal law. If the case succeeds as a class action, it could force changes at warehouses nationwide — not just for pregnant workers, but for anyone who needs a small adjustment to keep doing their job.