A group of Amazon employees filed a lawsuit alleging discrimination against disabled workers, linked to the use of AI. The suit claims Amazon denies medical requests for remote work, leading to terminations or unpaid leave. This is one of many discrimination lawsuits against Amazon in recent years.
Amazon opposes the lawsuit, calling it “fundamentally flawed.” The plaintiffs are represented by a law firm that has handled similar cases of discrimination against Amazon employees. The legal action is pending certification as a class action lawsuit.
Employees allege that Amazon failed to grant necessary medical accommodations, creating delays and technical issues. Specific cases include a military veteran, a car accident survivor, and workers with mental health and seizure symptoms.
Amazon receives about 725 accommodation requests daily, with an estimated 255,000 annually. The lawsuit suggests these issues may affect tens of thousands of current and former employees. Amazon did not disclose the number of requests granted. Disabled Amazon corporate employees are forming a union, Disabled Employees United, to fight the company’s handling of accommodation requests. 140 members have been granted the right to sue by the EEOC. Amazon is using AI for administrative tasks but not for making decisions on cases. Former EEOC Chair warns that automation of accommodation requests may prevent employees from appealing to a person, violating their rights. Amazon is facing a lawsuit for allegedly deleting Slack messages from employees sharing information about their rights under the Americans With Disabilities Act. Some members received warnings for posting messages. Amazon claims the messages violate its solicitation policy. The company says it is committed to providing accommodations that meet individual needs and business requirements. 1. The stock market hit record highs today, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average closing above 35,000 for the first time. This milestone comes amidst strong corporate earnings reports and positive economic data, fueling investor optimism.
2. The latest job report showed that the US economy added 943,000 jobs in July, surpassing economists’ expectations. The unemployment rate also dropped to 5.4%, indicating a strong recovery from the pandemic-induced recession.
3. In international news, tensions are escalating between China and the US over cybersecurity concerns. The US has accused China of sponsoring cyberattacks on US companies, prompting calls for increased cybersecurity measures and diplomatic action. This development could have far-reaching implications for global trade and security.
Read more at Yahoo Finance: Amazon workers with disabilities sue tech giant, alleging systematic discrimination