*

Amazon ( AMZN ) is accused of denying workplace accommodations

*

It faces multiple suits alleging pregnancy, disability

bias

By Daniel Wiessner

Oct 21 (Reuters) - The state of New Jersey sued

Amazon.com ( AMZN ) on Wednesday, accusing the company of

unlawfully refusing workplace accommodations to warehouse

employees who have disabilities or were pregnant and firing some

who asked for them.

The lawsuit filed in New Jersey state court by the office of

Attorney General Matthew Platkin, a Democrat, is the latest to

place the safety and treatment of Amazon ( AMZN ) warehouse workers vital

to the company's speedy delivery model under legal scrutiny.

New Jersey claimed that Amazon ( AMZN ) routinely denies reasonable

requests, such as for time off or limits on heavy lifting, and

then places workers who seek them on unpaid leave, in violation

of state anti-discrimination law. Workers who are granted

accommodations often have trouble keeping up with Amazon's ( AMZN ) rigid

production quotas, setting them up to be fired, Platkin's office

said.

The lawsuit seeks unspecified compensatory and punitive

damages and penalties, as well as an order requiring Amazon ( AMZN ) to

modify its employment practices.

"In building a trillion-dollar business, Amazon ( AMZN ) has

flagrantly violated (workers') rights and ignored their

well-being - all while it continues to profit off their labor,"

Platkin said in a statement.

Amazon ( AMZN ) did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The company has denied engaging in similar conduct in other

cases, and has said it strives to support its workers.

Amazon ( AMZN ) is the second-largest private employer in the United

States, behind Walmart ( WMT ). Amazon ( AMZN ) operates nearly 40

distribution centers and smaller "sort centers" with roughly

50,000 employees in New Jersey.

Federal law and many states including New Jersey require

employers to provide reasonable accommodations to pregnant and

disabled workers who request them.

Amazon ( AMZN ) has faced a number of lawsuits in recent years

involving claims of pregnancy or disability discrimination. The

company in August settled a proposed class action in California

alleging that pregnant employees were not permitted to take

leave. The terms of that settlement were not disclosed.

The company is facing an investigation into similar claims by

the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, which enforces

federal laws barring employment discrimination.

Amazon ( AMZN ) has denied wrongdoing in those cases.