Amazon Employee Files Lawsuit against Company for Discrimination

On Monday, an Amazon employee filed a lawsuit accusing the tech giant of paying her less than their White Counterparts. This lawsuit has become the latest among the growing list of current and former Amazon workers accusing the company of systemic racism.

The company is investigating the lawsuit filed by this Amazon employee. A spokesperson said, “Amazon works hard to foster a diverse, equitable, and inclusive culture, and these allegations do not reflect those efforts or our values. We do not tolerate discrimination or harassment of any kind and thoroughly investigate all claims and take appropriate action.”

Charlotte Newman, a 38-year-old Black Amazon Employee from Washington D.C., said in her complaint that Amazon Web Services hired her four years ago as a public policy manager. Even though she was eligible and applied to work as a higher-level senior manager, she was made public policy manager, which she says is a standard Amazon policy.

In a federal court complaint filed in Washington D.C., Newman’s attorney wrote, “Many of Ms. Newman’s colleagues observed a consistent practice of paying Black employees less than similarly situated White employees and a near-total lack of Black representation in and very few women in the upper echelons of the group’s leadership.”

The complaint also accuses the company of dropping Black employees below a level they applied for or are qualified for. It is a company practice of ‘de-leveling’ Black employees. Newman had to wait almost three years to get promoted to the position she had applied for. She also said that she was sexually harassed and assaulted by a senior male member before filing the written complaint.