A former housekeeper for Jeff Bezos has sued the billionaire Amazon founder for alleged racial discrimination and “unsafe” working situations, in keeping with courtroom papers.
The previous housekeeper, Mercedes Wedaa, alleged that she and different staffers had been denied quick access to loos in Bezos’ Seattle-area mansion when the Amazon mogul was on the town — and subsequently continuously developed urinary tract infections.
“When the Bezos household was house, the housekeepers weren't permitted to entry the house, until to carry out a cleansing project,” reads the go well with filed in Washington state courtroom on Tuesday.
“For about 18 months, as a way to use a rest room, Plaintiff and different housekeepers had been pressured to climb out the laundry room window to the surface then run alongside the trail to the mechanical room, by means of the mechanical room and downstairs to a rest room,” Wedaa’s go well with provides.
Wedaa labored in Bezos’ home beginning in 2019 and into 2021. She was finally promoted to steer housekeeper and took orders from Bezos and his girlfriend, Lauren Sanchez, in keeping with the go well with.
When the Bezos household was “in residence,” Wedaa and different housekeepers had been usually required to work 10- to 14-hour days with out legally required relaxation or meal breaks, the go well with alleges.
Within the go well with, Wedaa contrasted her alleged expertise in Bezos’ family along with her time working for late Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen. She mentioned that Allen supplied common relaxation and lunch breaks in a devoted workers quarters, in addition to readily accessible loos.
“Mr. Allen even supplied meals for the housekeepers and different workers,” the go well with provides.
Harry Korrell, an lawyer for Bezos, wrote in an e-mail to The Publish: “We've got investigated the claims, they usually lack advantage.”
“Ms. Wedaa revamped six figures yearly and was the lead housekeeper,” Korrell added. “She was answerable for her personal break and meal occasions, and there have been a number of loos and breakrooms obtainable to her and different workers. The proof will present that Ms. Wedaa was terminated for efficiency causes. She initially demanded over $9M, and when the corporate refused, she determined to file this go well with.”
Wedaa additionally alleged within the go well with that different family staffers discriminated and retaliated in opposition to her as a result of she is Hispanic. She is looking for monetary damages.
“Given their backgrounds, the suggestion that Mr. Bezos, Ms. Sanchez, or Northwestern LLC discriminated in opposition to Ms. Wedaa primarily based on her race or nationwide origin is absurd,” Korrell mentioned in response to the racial discrimination claims.
Bezos’ father was a Cuban immigrant, whereas Sanchez is Latina.
Wedaa’s lawyer, Patrick Leo McGuigan, mentioned in a press release to The Publish: “No employer is above the legislation, not even Jeff Bezos and the organizations he makes use of to find folks to work for him at his house and different properties.”
“Federal and state labor and employment legal guidelines dictate that working folks have to be paid for the work they carry out and that they have to be capable to carry out their work in a discrimination free, secure, sanitary, and wholesome office,” McGuigan added. “These legal guidelines had been violated by the Defendants on this case.”
Bezos has owned his mansion on a five-acre waterfront lot within the unique Seattle suburb of Medina, Washington, for the reason that late Nineteen Nineties. The home was value an estimated $70 million in 2017 following in depth renovations and expansions, the Seattle Occasions reported.
Along with Bezos, the go well with names two entities — Zefram LLC and Northwestern LLC. Bezos makes use of the LLCs to handle his properties and investments, in keeping with tech website GeekWire, which first reported the information.
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