The complaint, filed privately Wednesday by the state’s Division of Human Rights, concerns Amazon’s alleged violation of state law by giving its worksite managers the ability to override reasonable accommodations recommendations by in-house Amazon officials — known as Accommodation Consultants — charged with reviewing such requests .
In one of several cases noted in the complaint, as outlined by Hochul’s office, New York officials alleged a pregnant Amazon worker was forced into taking unpaid leave after being injured on the job lifting packages weighing more than 25 pounds despite having an approved accommodation exempting the worker from heavy lifting.
Hochul’s office said the complaint “seeks a decision requiring Amazon to cease its discriminatory conduct, adopt non-discriminatory policies and practices regarding the review of requests for reasonable accommodations, train its employees on the provisions of the Human Rights Law, and pay civil fines and penalties to the State of New York.”
Earlier this month, a New York appellate court dismissed a lawsuit brought by state Attorney General Letitia James concerning the company’s pandemic response. Morgan Rubin, first deputy press secretary for James’ office, said in a statement to CNN Business last week: “As our office reviews the decision and our options moving forward, Attorney General James remains committed to protecting Amazon workers, and all workers, from unfair treatment.”
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