NEW YORK, Could 18 (Reuters) – A New York state company has accused Amazon.com Inc (AMZN.O) in a criticism of discriminating towards pregnant and disabled employees at its worksites, Governor Kathy Hochul mentioned on Wednesday.
Amazon was additionally accused of getting insurance policies requiring employees to take unpaid leaves of absence, even when they’re able to working, as an alternative of offering cheap lodging.
The New York State Division of Human Rights faulted Amazon for giving worksite managers the facility to disregard the corporate’s in-house “lodging consultants” who advisable that employees obtain modified schedules or job obligations.
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State regulation requires employers present cheap lodging to pregnant and disabled employees who ask. It additionally treats pregnancy-related medical situations as disabilities.
“My administration will maintain any employer accountable, no matter how huge or small, if they don’t deal with their employees with the dignity and respect they deserve,” Hochul mentioned in an announcement.
Amazon spokeswoman Kelly Nantel mentioned Hochul’s announcement was shocking as a result of the Seattle-based firm had been cooperating and dealing carefully with the New York regulator.
She additionally mentioned Amazon considers it “extraordinarily necessary” that every one staff really feel protected and supported, and works diligently to offer lodging, whereas acknowledging that with greater than 1.6 million staff “we do not at all times get it proper.”
Amazon is the most important U.S. non-public employer apart from Walmart Inc (WMT.N). It operates 23 worksites with greater than 39,000 employees in New York.
The corporate has confronted rising criticism over its therapy of employees, together with some whom have pushed for unionization.
Final September, six Democratic senators together with New York’s Kirsten Gillibrand referred to as on the U.S. Equal Employment Alternative Fee to analyze Amazon’s alleged “systemic” failure to accommodate pregnant warehouse employees.
Wednesday’s criticism described how Amazon allegedly compelled one pregnant employee to proceed lifting packages over 25 kilos (11 kg), and put her on indefinite unpaid go away after she was injured.
It additionally mentioned Amazon reversed suggestions to let two disabled employees modify their work schedules, after their managers resisted the adjustments.
Complaints filed by the Division of Human Rights are confidential.
The Amazon criticism seeks unspecified civil fines and penalties, improved coaching, and new insurance policies for reviewing of requests for cheap lodging.
Violations can lead to penalties of as much as $50,000, or $100,000 for willful conduct.
Amazon’s revenue was $33.4 billion in 2021.
The corporate has additionally been the goal of litigation by state Lawyer Normal Letitia James.
On Could 10, a state appeals courtroom dismissed her lawsuit accusing Amazon of failing to guard employees at two New York Metropolis services towards COVID-19, and illegally retaliating towards two staff who protested the situations. learn extra
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Reporting by Jonathan Stempel in New York; Extra reporting by Daniel Wiessner in Albany, New York; Modifying by Andrew Heavens, Chizu Nomiyama, Nick Zieminski and Marguerita Choy
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