September 13, 2021
Six U.S. senators will head an inquiry into Amazon’s treatment of pregnant staff at its warehouses.
The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission will investigate whether “Amazon systematically denies reasonable accommodations for pregnant employees at its fulfillment centers,” Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y., <span style=”font-weight: 400;”>wrote in a letter co-signed</span> by Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., and three other Democrats.
The letter, which was released last Friday, mentions several lawsuits and at least two cases in which pregnant women claimed Amazon had denied their requests for reassignment or reduced duties, arguing that doing so could violate federal protections for pregnant or disabled employees.
Amazon spokeswoman Kelly Nantelm said in a statement Friday that the company “strongly disputed” discrimination allegations and that the lawmaker’s descriptions of the two workers were inaccurate because they did not include Amazon’s moves to accommodate the women.
For more information, view the original story from NPR.
