Amazon is one of the most successful and profitable companies in the world, bringing in $514 billion in revenue in the fourth quarter of 2022 alone. The backbone of the company is its millions of employees worldwide, which has a distribution and online retail network that dwarfs almost every other competitor. The company also has a significant presence in California, employing over 163,000 workers statewide as of January 2023.

Working at Amazon in California can be demanding, particularly in roles at distribution centers that require long hours or involve physical labor. To that end, the company has been criticized for its treatment of workers in recent years. Some employees have complained about working conditions, lack of breaks, and insufficient pay. All of these complaints represent violations of California’s various employment laws.

Experienced Legal Support From California Employment Lawyers

Standing up to your employer when they violate your rights in the workplace is always intimidating, but even more so if you are employed by Amazon, a company with vast power and resources. At the same time, no California employer, no matter how powerful, has the right to violate the rights of its employees.

At Maison Law, we understand how difficult this entire process can be on you and your family. Our team of experienced California employment lawyers can provide you with support and guidance to stand up for yourself and your coworkers. To learn more about your options, contact us for a free, no-obligation consultation.

Common Amazon Employment Opportunites in California

The strength of Amazon as a company, in large part, is its workforce. Because of the structure of its business, they offer a very diverse set of opportunities for workers throughout California. with multiple fulfillment centers, delivery stations, and corporate offices located throughout the state, some of the more common opportunities to work at Amazon include:

Fulfillment Center Associates – These are warehouse roles that involve receiving, picking, packing, and shipping customer orders.
Delivery Drivers – Amazon delivery drivers are responsible for delivering packages to customers’ homes and businesses.
Customer Service Associates – These roles involve interacting with customers over the phone, email, or chat to answer questions, resolve issues, and provide support.
Software Engineers – Amazon has several software development teams based in California that work on projects ranging from building websites and mobile apps to developing machine learning algorithms.
Business Analysts – These roles involve analyzing data and generating insights to help inform Amazon’s business decisions.
Operations Managers – These positions involve managing teams and processes to ensure efficient and effective operations at Amazon facilities.
Human Resources Associates – HR roles at Amazon involve recruiting and hiring new employees, managing employee benefits, and providing support for employee relations issues.
Marketing Associates – These roles involve developing and executing marketing campaigns to promote Amazon’s products and services.
Finance Associates – Finance roles at Amazon involve managing budgets, forecasting financial performance, and providing financial analysis to inform business decisions.

With Amazon, there are a number of different jobs across a variety of different workplaces. What this means for you, as an employee of the company, is that you could find yourself in a number of different scenarios that violate California’s employment laws. As such, it’s important to understand these laws and how they apply to you in the workplace.

California Employment Law and Amazon

Despite its status as one of the biggest and most profitable companies in the world, Amazon is like any other employer in California in that it is bound by the various legal protections given to workers by the California Labor Code. This includes various protections relating to being kept safe and paid fairly in the workplace. Specifically, the Labor Code outlines the following legal protections for Amazon employees in California:

Minimum wage – The California minimum wage is currently $15.50 per hour, and can be even higher in certain counties or cities. As a California employer, Amazon must pay at least the minimum wage to all its employees.
Overtime pay – California law requires employers to pay overtime to non-exempt employees who work more than eight hours in a day or 40 hours in a week. Overtime pay is calculated at 1.5 times the regular rate of pay.
Meal and rest breaks – California law requires employers to provide meal breaks of at least 30 minutes for employees who work more than five hours in a day, and at least 10 minute rest breaks for every four hours the employee works. Amazon must provide these breaks to its California employees.
Workplace safety – California’s extensive workplace safety laws apply across all of Amazon’s various workplaces, but are especially applicable in its warehouses and distribution centers. Regulated by Cal/OSHA, these standards include providing training and personal protective equipment, and ensuring that the workplace is free from hazards that can cause serious injury or illness.
Anti-discrimination and harassment protections – California law–specifically the Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA)–prohibits discrimination and harassment based on race, gender, sexual orientation, religion, disability, and other protected categories. Amazon must maintain a workplace free from discrimination and harassment and provide a process for employees to report any incidents.
Workers’ compensation – California law requires employers to provide workers’ compensation insurance to cover employees’ medical expenses and lost wages if they are injured or become ill due to work-related activities. Amazon must provide workers’ compensation benefits to its California employees.
Time off and leave – California law provides various types of time off and leave, including sick leave, family and medical leave, and domestic violence leave. Amazon must provide these benefits to its eligible California employees.

These Labor Code protections help ensure that Amazon employees in California are treated fairly and have a safe and healthy workplace. That said, every employer–especially one as diverse and large as Amazon–can foster a work environment that leads to violations of these laws. When that happens, employees can take steps to protect their rights.

Common Employment Law Violations and Legal Options For Amazon Employees in California

Obviously, there are a number of different violations that can occur to Amazon employees in California. Fortunately, the law also provides options for these employees when their rights are violated. Understanding how these violations occur can sometimes be helpful in understanding the options that you have. Of these violations, the following are common for most Amazon employees in California:

Wage and Hour Violations – California has strict wage and hour laws that require employers to pay their employees minimum wage, overtime pay, and provide meal and rest breaks.
Retaliation – California law prohibits employers from retaliating against employees who exercise their legal rights, such as filing a complaint or reporting illegal activity. Employees can also experience retaliation from Amazon if they are demoted or have their hours cut in retaliation for them engaging in these “protected activities.”
Wrongful Termination – California is an at-will employment state, meaning that Amazon can terminate employees for any reason or no reason at all, except for illegal reasons. Usually, this involves being terminated for a discriminatory reason (like race) or for engaging in protected activity like complaining about workplace safety.

Legal Options

Suffering a violation of your workplace rights in California is difficult enough on its own, but in order for the treatment to stop, it often requires you to take the added step of pursuing legal action against Amazon. This can be somewhat intimidating, but ultimately, it’s a proactive move to stand up for your rights, and the rights of other Amazon employees. These options vary depending on the circumstances, but they can include the following:

Filing a claim with the Labor Commissioner’s Office – The Labor Commissioner’s Office is responsible for enforcing California labor laws, including wage and hour laws. One option you have when you believe Amazon has violated your wage and hour protections, you can file a claim with the Labor Commissioner’s Office. The Labor Commissioner’s Office will investigate the claim and will ultimately issue a ruling to determine if you are owed any wages or penalties.
Filing a claim with the Department of Fair Employment and Housing (DEFH) – Similar to the Labor Commissioner’s Office, the DEFH is responsible for enforcing California’s anti-discrimination and anti-harassment laws. If you believe you have been subjected to discrimination or harassment in the workplace, you can file a complaint with the DEFH. The DEFH will investigate the complaint and may take legal action against Amazon if it finds evidence of discrimination or harassment.
Filing a lawsuit – The third option is to file a lawsuit against Amazon in civil court. Depending on the nature of your claim, you may be entitled to damages, such as lost wages or compensation for emotional distress. It’s important to note that filing a lawsuit can be a complex and time-consuming process, especially against a company with resources like Amazon. Still, working with our team of experienced California employment lawyers can make sure your claim remains strong and you get the treatment you deserve.

As with any claim, the strength of your case will ultimately rely on evidence and the facts and circumstances that surround your situation. While it can indeed be intimidating, our team will support you every step of the way.

Bold Representation From Experienced California Employment Lawyers

At Maison Law, we understand the unique challenges that Amazon employees face, and we’re committed to providing bold representation to help you achieve the justice you deserve. Our team of experienced California employment lawyers will work tirelessly to hold Amazon accountable for any unlawful or unethical practices and to help you navigate the legal system with confidence. Contact us today to schedule a free, no-obligation consultation to get started.

Amazon Employment Law in California