Amazon Faces Lawsuit Over Inhumane Working Conditions

Amazon, the e-commerce giant, is facing a new lawsuit filed in Denver, Colorado, on Monday. The suit alleges that Amazon created “inhumane” working conditions for its staff, requiring them to go to the bathroom in bottles and bags to maintain the schedule set forth by Amazon. This is not the first time that Amazon employees have made similar claims.

The lawsuit was filed by three plaintiffs, Leah Cross, Ryan Schilling, and Marco Granger-Rivera, who are at the heart of this new class action suit. They claim that Amazon’s “harsh work quotas” and “elaborate tracking” make finding a proper restroom almost impossible.

The strict schedule may have caused an Amazon delivery driver to drop off a package recently despite an ongoing police standoff. The suit also alleges that trash cans at Amazon fulfillment centers are “frequently overflowing” with bottles of urine.

Attorneys say that such conditions violate Colorado wage laws since the schedule requires workers to skip breaks that they then aren’t later compensated for. In addition, the conditions might also violate discrimination laws as they have a “disparate impact” on women.

According to Cross, a superior reprimanded her for leaving her delivery route to find a bathroom since she couldn’t pee in a bottle due to her “typical female anatomy.”

Forbes reports that two groups may have the chance to join the suit. The first includes anyone who has worked as an Amazon delivery driver in the past six years, and the second includes any Amazon delivery driver with “typical female anatomy.” Before anyone can join in on the class action though, the Denver state court must approve the lawsuit.

This is only the latest complaint surrounding Amazon and the treatment of its workers. Reports of similar pee bottles have surfaced over the years, and we’ve documented how Amazon delivery vans sometimes penalize drivers. Some have even quit over privacy concerns.

In conclusion, Amazon is facing a new lawsuit filed in Denver, Colorado, over inhumane working conditions. The lawsuit alleges that Amazon created “harsh work quotas” and “elaborate tracking” that make finding a proper restroom almost impossible. The conditions may violate Colorado wage laws and discrimination laws as they have a “disparate impact” on women. This is only the latest complaint surrounding Amazon and the treatment of its workers.