Amazon Worker Claims Discrimination Over Breastfeeding at Work

A former employee of Amazon’s Staten Island fulfillment center alleges that her workplace made it intolerable for her to express breast milk while on the job. Isharae Jackson, a 29-year-old mother of twins, claims that the company’s actions led her to stop breastfeeding altogether for fear of losing her position. This allegation is part of a federal civil rights lawsuit filed in Brooklyn, New York.

Jackson began her employment at Amazon in May 2024, working overnight shifts from 6:15 p.m. to 6:45 a.m., earning approximately $21.25 per hour. After taking maternity leave on September 28, 2024, to care for her newborn twins, she returned to work on December 4, 2024. Upon her return, Jackson sought reasonable accommodations to express breast milk at work, which led to her being approved for a 30-minute lactation break every two hours. However, Jackson argues that the conditions imposed by Amazon made it nearly impossible to utilize this time effectively.

Claims of Harassment and Discrimination

Jackson’s lawsuit outlines several grievances regarding how her lactation breaks were handled. She asserts that Amazon managers closely monitored her breaks, even docking her pay for the time taken to travel to a pump room that was not conveniently located. The complaint states that it took her 10-15 minutes to reach the room, which left her with insufficient time to pump, clean her supplies, and return to her work station. Jackson alleges that supervisors reprimanded her for returning late, and she frequently faced accusatory questions about her need to pump.

Despite her attempts to address these issues, Jackson claims her concerns were ignored by the company’s human resources department. In January 2025, she reached out to an on-site HR representative to report feeling targeted for exercising her rights as a nursing mother. Following her complaint, she was reportedly told that no violations of Amazon policy were found.

Retaliation and Termination

Jackson contends that after her complaints, she became a target for retaliation. She received a disciplinary write-up in April 2025 for allegedly miscounting items, a situation she attributes to the time lost during her pumping breaks. Jackson noted that other non-nursing employees had not faced similar consequences for comparable mistakes. The lawsuit claims that Jackson’s complaints continued to go unaddressed, and each time she raised concerns about discrimination, she faced further disciplinary action.

By May 2025, Jackson felt compelled to cease pumping due to the ongoing harassment. When she contacted HR again to raise her concerns, she was informed that the matter was considered closed. Shortly thereafter, in June 2025, Jackson was terminated, a decision she believes was made in retaliation for opposing the company’s discriminatory practices.

The lawsuit alleges that Jackson suffered emotional pain and distress as a result of her experiences at Amazon. She is now seeking an injunction to prevent the company from engaging in discrimination against lactating mothers, as well as lost wages, compensatory damages, and punitive damages. The total amount sought will be determined by a jury.

According to federal law, nursing mothers have the right to express milk at work, and previous lawsuits have seen favorable outcomes for employees facing similar challenges. The case highlights ongoing issues surrounding workplace accommodations for nursing mothers, especially in large corporations like Amazon, which has faced scrutiny for its treatment of employees in the past.

As of now, an Amazon spokesperson has not responded to requests for comment regarding Jackson’s claims. The outcome of this lawsuit could impact not only Jackson’s future but also set important precedents for workplace rights for nursing mothers across the country.