Amazon

Former Amazon warehouse employees filed a nationwide class action, backed by the advocacy group A Better Balance, alleging Amazon systematically refused pregnant workers accommodations required under the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act - including bathroom breaks, seating, and light duty - and in some cases forced workers onto unpaid leave or fired them for absences caused by the denied accommodations. Amazon said it approves most pregnancy accommodation requests.

The International Brotherhood of Teamsters, joined by the National Employment Law Project, The Action Lab, and ALIGN, filed a complaint with the New York State Department of Labor on August 18, 2026, alleging Amazon and 13 delivery service partner (DSP) subcontractors violated New York's WARN Act by failing to give the legally required 90-day advance notice before closing DSPs and laying off delivery drivers between September 2023 and October 2025. The accompanying report found 35 DSPs closed since 2018, cutting over 3,500 jobs, with more than 1,300 workers affected by the specific violations alleged; of 20 DSPs that filed WARN notices in the study period, 13 gave less than the required notice. Potential back wages owed are estimated at up to $11 million.

Amazon Employees for Climate Justice (AECJ) members reported in June 2026 that Amazon began disciplinary actions, including termination notices, against employees who publicly supported a Seattle proposal to pause new data center construction over climate, energy, and community-impact concerns. Workers characterized the actions as retaliation for protected political and environmental speech, escalating Amazon's long-running pattern of disciplinary measures against employees who organize on climate and workforce issues.

On April 2, 2026, the NLRB ruled Amazon must negotiate with the Amazon Labor Union (now aligned with Teamsters) representing ~5,000 workers at the Staten Island warehouse. The NLRB found Amazon 'has engaged in unfair labor practices' by refusing to bargain. Amazon plans to appeal and has sued to block the NLRB, arguing the agency is unconstitutional. The Teamsters called it 'a historic victory for Amazon Teamsters nationwide.' Across the country, 10,000 Amazon workers have organized with Teamsters at 13 facilities.

On March 31, 2026, Amazon settled with the NLRB over charges filed by the Teamsters regarding illegal retaliation against striking workers. Amazon had docked unpaid time off (UPT) for more than 100 employees who walked off the job. Settlement terms require Amazon to restore docked UPT, post notices at all 1,300 facilities nationwide informing workers of their right to organize, and agree not to terminate or discriminate against striking workers. The NLRB stated the UPT deductions were 'unlawfully coercive.' Amazon did not admit wrongdoing.

Amazon announced a second round of massive job cuts as part of its earlier announced goal of laying off 30,000 corporate employees. The latest cuts removed 14,000 white-collar jobs and affected the company's Amazon Web Services (AWS), retail, Prime Video and human resource units.

In February 2025, Amazon contributed $100,000 to oppose Proposition 1A, a ballot measure to fund Seattle's social housing authority through a 5% payroll tax on companies for salaries over $1 million. Amazon joined Microsoft and other corporate donors in spending $780,000 total against the measure. Despite the corporate opposition, the measure passed with 63% voter support.

Amazon announced it was 'winding down outdated programs and materials' as part of a broader review of hundreds of DEI initiatives. VP of Inclusive Experiences Candi Castleberry stated the company would focus on 'programs with proven outcomes' rather than individual group programs. Amazon also streamlined its public policy webpage, consolidating separate sections for 'Equity for Black people,' 'Diversity, equity and inclusion,' and 'LGBTQ+ rights' into a single paragraph.

An 18-month Senate HELP Committee investigation led by Sen. Bernie Sanders, reviewing 7 years of data and interviewing 130+ workers, found Amazon warehouse workers suffered 6.6 serious injuries per 100 workers — more than double the 3.2 rate at non-Amazon warehouses. Internal 'Project Soteria' studies found speed caused injuries, but Amazon chose not to implement recommendations to protect its bottom line. OSHA cited Amazon at multiple facilities for ergonomic hazards and inadequate medical care. Amazon settled with OSHA in December 2024 for $145,000 and agreed to corporate-wide ergonomic measures.

Amazon donated $1 million to Trump's 2025 presidential inauguration fund. Additionally, Amazon provided an in-kind donation by streaming the inauguration ceremony on Prime Video, valued at approximately $1 million.

Amazon's Project Kuiper received FCC approval to launch 3,236 internet satellites despite calls from environmental groups for comprehensive environmental review. A GAO report criticized the FCC for not conducting environmental assessments of mega-constellation impacts. In August 2024, advocacy groups petitioned to halt satellite launches pending proper environmental review of orbital debris, atmospheric effects, and astronomy interference impacts.

After Amazon acquired One Medical for $3.9 billion in 2023, leaked documents reported by The Washington Post and PBS NewsHour revealed that the company routed patient phone calls to a call center in Tempe, Arizona staffed by workers lacking medical training. In over a dozen cases, patients calling with 'red flag' symptoms — indicating potentially life-threatening conditions — were not appropriately escalated. Meanwhile, senior patient care deteriorated: appointment times shortened, clinical staff lost their jobs, and providers were expected to see twice as many patients daily. An Oregon state follow-up report confirmed these service reductions.

On May 12, 2021 the EU General Court annulled the European Commission's 2017 order requiring Amazon to repay approximately €250 million in alleged unlawful state aid to Luxembourg, finding the Commission had not established a selective advantage. The Court of Justice dismissed the Commission's appeal on December 14, 2023, finalising the ruling in Amazon's favour. While Amazon prevailed on this specific tax-ruling case, multiple separate national tax disputes against Amazon's European operating-structure remained open.

In May 2023, the FTC charged Amazon with violating children's privacy law (COPPA) by retaining kids' Alexa voice recordings indefinitely and undermining parental deletion requests ($25M fine). Separately, Ring was fined $5.8M after an employee viewed thousands of videos from 81+ female users' cameras in intimate spaces. Ring's security failures from 2016-2020 also enabled hackers to access consumer accounts and cameras.

Before its 2024 DEI rollback, Amazon had built substantial diversity infrastructure. Its 13 employee affinity groups had 130,000+ members in 2,000+ chapters across 58 countries. Glamazon, the LGBTQIA+ group formalized in 2005, grew to 20,000+ members across 80 global chapters. Amazon doubled representation of Black directors and VPs in 2020, provided transgender healthcare including hormone therapy and gender transition coverage, and committed $53M to female climate tech entrepreneurs. CEO Jeff Bezos received the Human Rights Campaign National Equality Award in 2017.

On April 1, 2022, workers at Amazon's JFK8 warehouse in Staten Island voted 2,654 to 2,131 to form the Amazon Labor Union - the first successful union at any US Amazon facility. Amazon spent over $4 million on anti-union efforts including mandatory meetings, 'Vote No' banners, and hired consulting firms. The NLRB certified the union in January 2023 despite Amazon's objections. Union leader Christian Smalls was previously fired by Amazon in 2020 after organizing a pandemic safety protest.

On December 10, 2021, a tornado tore through an Amazon warehouse in Edwardsville, Illinois, killing 6 employees. Questions arose about whether Amazon had adequate severe weather protocols and whether workers were directed to shelter in the safest areas. The incident raised broader concerns about Amazon's warehouse safety procedures and whether the company prioritized operations over worker safety during severe weather events.

In 2021, Amazon conducted an aggressive anti-union campaign at its Bessemer, Alabama warehouse (BHM1) during RWDSU union elections. The NLRB found Amazon violated labor law through mandatory 'captive audience' meetings, improper polling of employees, threats about facility closure, and installing a mailbox that created the appearance of election irregularity. The first election was invalidated; a second vote in 2022 also rejected unionization amid continued objections.

Amazon's Ring subsidiary partnered with over 2,600 police departments, giving law enforcement the ability to request doorbell camera footage from users without warrants. Ring admitted to providing footage to police without owner consent at least 11 times in early 2022 during 'emergencies.' Sen. Markey's investigation found Ring had egregiously lax privacy and civil rights protections, with employees in Ukraine having unfettered access to live camera feeds. Over 30 civil rights organizations demanded the partnerships end, citing racial profiling and overpolicing risks. Ring discontinued its police Request for Assistance tool in January 2024.

In September 2019, Amazon co-founded The Climate Pledge with Global Optimism, committing to reach net-zero carbon by 2040 — ten years ahead of the Paris Agreement. Amazon ordered 100,000 electric delivery vans from Rivian and became the first signatory of the Pledge, which has since attracted 565+ signatories. By 2023, Amazon matched 100% of electricity use with renewable energy, seven years ahead of target. Carbon intensity improved 40% since 2019. However, Amazon faced criticism for quietly dropping its 'Shipment Zero' pledge and the pace of EV deployment (~31,000 of 100,000 vans delivered by 2024).