The workplace accommodations process at Amazon is broken.
While Amazon’s dangerous workplace conditions have received immense scrutiny, less attention has been paid to what happens when workers seek accommodations after worksite injuries. And though Amazon bills itself as a welcoming employer of workers with disabilities, many new hires find their need for accommodations unfairly delayed, ignored, or denied. Similar concerns have also been raised by employees who are pregnant and need accommodations, or have gotten injured on the job.
Across the country, warehouse associates with disabilities face multiple hurdles in receiving the type of reasonable accommodations that would allow them to perform their jobs safely and successfully. Contrary to the interactive process outlined in the Americans with Disabilities Act, Amazon workers seeking accommodations must navigate excessive requests for paperwork and medical documentation, indefinite delays, departments that don’t communicate with one other, outright discrimination from managers, and more.