New U.S. Pregnancy Accommodations Law Being Tested In Court

New regulations on U.S. workplace accommodations are being tested in court as a New York federal judge recently mandated that Amazon must comply with a U.S. civil rights agency’s investigation into alleged discrimination of pregnant workers at five of the company’s warehouses.  

Reuters reports that U.S. District Judge Lorna Schofield ordered Amazon.com to adhere to a subpoena from the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), in a move that could set a precedent for how large corporations handle similar discrimination claims in the future. 

The judge’s decision, which came late Thursday, rejects Amazon’s argument that the EEOC’s subpoena was overly broad and sought irrelevant workplace data. The EEOC is specifically interested in information regarding accommodation requests made by pregnant workers at five of Amazon’s U.S. warehouses — including details on whether these requests were approved or denied. This covers accommodations like placing limits on heavy lifting and additional break time.  

The agency argues that such information is essential to determine if Amazon’s workplace practices amounted to illegal discrimination of pregnant workers. 

The court order comes at a time when large corporations may face heightened scrutiny regarding their treatment of pregnant workers. Last year, the U.S. Pregnant Workers Fairness Act went into effect on June 27, expanding protections and accommodations for pregnant and nursing workers across the country.  

The recent New York decision emphasizes the importance of treating pregnancy accommodations with the same seriousness as accommodations provided to workers with disabilities. 

The Amazon investigation began after complaints from five women who claimed they faced pregnancy discrimination while working at Amazon facilities in New Jersey, Connecticut, North Carolina, and California.  

According to the complaints, the women contend they were either denied accommodations that are typically granted to other workers with disabilities or were forced to take unpaid leave despite being capable of performing their duties with reasonable adjustments. 

Reuters reports that Amazon has responded to the EEOC, noting that the company has been cooperative with the investigation and has provided around 370,000 pages of data to the agency. However, the company also admitted that the data was not in the specific format requested by the EEOC. 

The EEOC’s pursuit of this data is not just about resolving individual complaints but is also seen as ensuring compliance with evolving legal standards. The ruling reinforces the authority of regulatory bodies like the EEOC to demand compliance and specific data from companies under investigation.  

Judge Schofield has given Amazon until August 9 to comply fully with the EEOC’s data request. As the case progresses, it will likely serve as a focal point for discussions on the rights of pregnant workers and the responsibilities of employers in the ever-changing landscape of workplace regulation.