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Amazon is facing new legal pressure over its treatment of warehouse staff after a proposed class action accused the company of subjecting employees with disabilities to a “punitive” attendance policy that can lead to job loss.
Filed in federal court in Manhattan, the lawsuit claims Amazon unfairly penalizes New York warehouse workers who request accommodations by forcing them onto unpaid leave, then threatening termination for taking too much time off. The case seeks damages for hourly employees across the state who, within the past three years, sought or intended to seek adjustments to their work conditions.
According to the complaint, “Amazon’s practices chill employees’ exercise of their legal rights, because employees justifiably fear they too will be disciplined and fired if they request reasonable accommodation.”
Employee says she was left unpaid for weeks
The lead plaintiff, Cayla Lyster, works at an Amazon facility near Syracuse, New York. She alleges the company repeatedly placed her on unpaid leave while reviewing her accommodation requests related to Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, a connective-tissue disorder. Lyster said she asked for basic modifications such as permission to sit, avoidance of ladders, and other physical adjustments.
While her requests were under review, Lyster claims she was left without pay for nearly six weeks and berated by supervisors. The lawsuit describes Amazon’s absence control policy as “punitive,” citing automated emails that demand workers justify missed shifts within 48 hours or face dismissal.
“These emails intimidate and threaten employees who have exercised their rights to request reasonable accommodation,” Lyster said in her filing.
Workplace rights group A Better Balance, which helped bring the lawsuit, criticized Amazon’s approach. “Workers shouldn’t ever need to choose between their safety and their paycheck,” said Inimai Chettiar, the organization’s president.
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Amazon denies discrimination allegations
Amazon spokesperson Kelly Nantel rejected the claims, saying the company’s policies comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act and New York’s human rights laws. “Ensuring the health and wellbeing of our employees is our top priority, and we’re committed to providing a safe and supportive environment for everyone,” she said.
The lawsuit follows a separate action filed three weeks earlier by New Jersey Attorney General Matthew Platkin, who accused Amazon of denying accommodations and forcing pregnant and disabled workers onto unpaid leave. The company has denied those allegations, asserting it approves more than 99% of pregnancy-related accommodation requests.
