Amazon issued an apology after a company boss was denied access to a business course because she wanted to breastfeed her baby.
The incident highlights the ongoing tension between corporate safety protocols and the needs of working parents. It raises questions about how the world's largest retailer manages accessibility for mothers returning to the workforce.
Rachael Bews, an Amazon executive, sought to attend the business course with her five-month-old daughter [1]. According to reports, Bews informed the company of her requirements before the event began.
"I told them in advance that I would need to breastfeed my child during the day," Bews said.
Despite the prior notice, the company barred Bews and her child from the site. A reporter said that she was told she could not take her child on site [2]. Amazon officials cited safety concerns as the primary reason for the restriction [3].
The company later expressed regret over the handling of the situation. An unnamed Amazon spokesperson said, "Amazon has apologised for not communicating its policy effectively" [4].
The company did not specify the exact nature of the safety risks that precluded the presence of an infant at the course. However, the apology suggests a failure in internal communication regarding how such requests are handled, a gap that left a senior employee unable to participate in professional development.
“"I told them in advance that I would need to breastfeed my child during the day,"”
This incident underscores the gap between a company's stated inclusive values and its operational execution. By citing 'safety' to exclude a breastfeeding mother, Amazon faced a public relations challenge that forced an admission of poor communication. For the broader corporate landscape, it serves as a case study in the necessity of clear, flexible policies for nursing parents to avoid discriminatory outcomes.
