Amazon Accused of Firing Pregnant Worker Who Sought Extra Leave

Amazon.com Services LLC is facing a new lawsuit from a former worker who says she was fired just before she was supposed to return from maternity leave in violation of the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act.

The complaint, filed Wednesday in the US District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, is the third against Amazon under the new law, according to a Bloomberg Law docket review. All three suits are in the Northern District of Illinois and accuse the online retail giant of illegally firing workers who requested accommodations related to their pregnancies.

Janecia Ivy started working as an Amazon stower in October 2023 and went on maternity leave the next month, according to the complaint. She requested a three-week extension of her leave, based on her doctor’s recommendation, she said.

Amazon granted her request, but then fired her two days before she was meant to return, she alleged.

Doing so violated both the PWFA and Title VII of the 1964 Civil Rights Act, the complaint said.

The Pregnant Workers Fairness Act, which went into effect last summer, requires employers to make reasonable accommodations for workers’ limitations related to pregnancy, unless doing so will pose an undue hardship. Around 80 lawsuits have been filed against Amazon and other employers since June 2023, including Walmart Inc., Publix Super Markets Inc., Starbucks Corp., and United Parcel Service Inc.

Neither Amazon nor attorneys for Ivy immediately responded to requests for comment.

Sulaiman Law Group represents Ivy. An attorney hasn’t yet made an appearance for Amazon in the case.

The case is Ivy v. Amazon.com Servs., LLC, N.D. Ill., 1:24-cv-06028, complaint filed 7/17/24.