Three years after the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act took effect in June 2023, companies continue denying basic requests for accommodations like sitting or extra breaks, forcing some workers into unpaid leave or job loss. Legal challenges filed under the law show persistent resistance, particularly affecting women in low-wage retail and manufacturing roles who face documented health risks when denied necessary adjustments.

Amazon faces specific scrutiny following an Equal Employment Opportunity Commission finding in February that the company likely violated the law against a nationwide class of female warehouse associates. Employees claim that even approved breaks were deducted from limited unpaid time allowances, pushing them toward termination, as seen in cases involving denied requests for lighter duties.

Advocacy groups report hundreds of calls from pregnant employees denied simple needs such as chairs or time for prenatal appointments without penalty since the law’s inception. Medical experts confirm that failing to provide medically necessary accommodations increases risks related to falls and physical injury during pregnancy, creating liability exposure for employers.

One fired Amazon worker’s complaint led to the EEOC finding, demonstrating that while the law offers a new legal tool, enforcement remains difficult. Speedway is also facing allegations of systemic violations regarding its treatment of pregnant staff, showing the problem extends beyond massive logistics operations.