Five women came forward to file separate lawsuits against the multinational tech company last month. Each case alleged harassment, discrimination, unpaid wages, and retaliation claims.
Charlotte Newman, a senior manager at Amazon, claimed the company hired her for a job where she was overqualified. Later, upper management requested that she take on more responsibility without pay. In the U.S., if you are getting paid minimum wage (or more), there is no law requiring that they reward you for increasing the workload unless you worked overtime.
As a black woman, she found her managers were racially targeting her with negative feedback. A co-worker had also harassed and groped her as well. With the help of employment attorneys, she was able to share her side of the story.
That Is Not the First Time Amazon is Facing Allegations
According to CNET, their warehouse in Bessemer, Alabama, was investigated for tampering with the ballots during the presidential election. Around the same time, Vox discovered the adverse treatment women and Black corporate employees were experiencing too. In a statement issued a few weeks ago, their spokesperson said the company “works hard to foster a diverse, equitable, and inclusive culture.”
A spokesperson also told a CNET reporter, “We do not tolerate discrimination or harassment in any form, and employees are encouraged to raise concerns to any member of management or through an anonymous ethics hotline with no risk of retaliation.”
Victims Allege Amazon Fails to Promote Women and People of Color
Women, particularly those of color, have accused the company that they do not excel at the same rate as their white co-workers. Although the company prides its success on equality and fair treatment, new allegations confirm the opposite. Like Newman, the following women feel the same:
- HR specialist Tiffany Gordwin, a Black woman, alleged she was overlooked for a promotion and moved to a lesser role. The feedback from managers included racial stereotypes.
- HR employee Pearl Thomas, another Black woman, claimed she experienced racial abuse and harassment. Her manager used the N-word when he thought she hung up on their conversation.
- Diana Cuervo, Delivery Operations Manager, alleged harassment from a manager who made derogatory comments against Latinos. After filing a complaint, she got fired.
- Emily Sousa, Warehouse shift manager, alleged a co-worker inappropriately compared her to a porn star. Another harassed her in the workplace. After complaining, her employment got terminated.
- Amazon Web Services lead, Cindy Warner, alleged she was earning less than her male co-workers. She had been hired at a lower position and forbidden from applying to a higher role. The employer retaliated and fired her for speaking up.
Each Suit Got Filed in Federal Courts
Each lawsuit will get tried in federal courts across four states. The same legal team represents them, which helps show patterns of unlawful treatments across Amazon.
Any time you or a loved one experiences discrimination, racism, harassment, retaliation, or a harmful act at work, report it immediately. At The Law Offices of Mann & Elias, our Los Angeles workplace lawyers have worked tirelessly to recover millions to help clients.
