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In March, our firm reported that we had filed a lawsuit seeking class-action certification on behalf of prospective candidates at Amazon.com in New York City who were unlawfully subjected to marijuana testing. Now, the online retail giant has been hit with five lawsuits by women employed in corporate and warehouse management roles, accusing Amazon of gender and racial bias.
Going up against a tech giant is never easy, and it remains to be seen how the above-mentioned lawsuits against Amazon.com will play out. In the meantime, if you have been subjected to discrimination or your employment rights have been violated in any other way by Amazon, or any other employer in New York, talk to an employment lawyer. For now, let’s take a look at the pending discrimination lawsuits against Amazon.
Is There Gender and Racial Bias at Amazon.com?
The lawsuits were filed in federal courts by women ages 23 to 64, alleging Amazon favors men over women in career advancement. The plaintiffs also claim that the company allowed supervisors to denigrate them and retaliated against them after they complained.
A company spokesperson said Amazon found no evidence supporting the accusations, and that the company does not tolerate discrimination or harassment and supports a “diverse, equitable and inclusive culture.”
The lawsuits follow a recent lawsuit by an African-American manager at Amazon Web Services who sued in March over alleged systemic discrimination. Among the five plaintiffs is a gay executive in that unit, who claimed a male manager was openly derogatory and that Amazon terminated her after learning she had hired an attorney. Another black plaintiff said a human resources employee downplayed concerns about her treatment.
In April, founder Jeff Bezos said Amazon needed to take better care of employees and the company should have more African-Americans in senior and corporate roles. The company ended 2020 with about 1.3 million full- and part-time employees.
Why This Matters
Whether the racial and gender discrimination allegations against Amazon.com will be proven in court or if these claims even make it to trial remains to be seen — a settlement is not unlikely. Nonetheless, this case highlights how more Amazon employees are coming forward with employment-related claims.
Given that Amazon and other tech companies have vast financial and legal resources at their disposal, the best way for workers to protect their rights is to consult with an adept employment lawyer. If you work in the tech sector and believe your employment rights have been violated, contact Lipsky Lowe LLP, we will be the strength in your corner.