Susan Walsh/AP
Jeff Bezos's ex-housekeeper, Mercedes Wedaa, is suing the tech billionaire, claiming she experienced racial bias and was made to work long hours in unsanitary conditions.
Wedaa, who began working for Bezos in September 2019, accused the Amazon founder of discriminating against her because of her race, exposing her to unsafe and unsanitary work conditions, and wrongfully terminating her, according to court documents filed in a Seattle state court.
Wedaa claimed in the complaint that she worked 10, 12, or sometimes 14-hour days without legally required breaks.
Representatives for Bezos did not immediately respond to Insider's request for comment. However, Harry Korrell, an attorney who represents Bezos and other defendants, told Bloomberg: "We've investigated these claims, they have no merit, and we'll defend against them."
The complaint claims that Bezos's housekeeping staff were not provided with a suitable place to eat and had to climb out of a window to access a bathroom.
According to the lawsuit, because there was no "readily accessible bathroom," Wedaa and other housekeepers spent large parts of their day unable to use the toilet. The lawsuit alleges that the housekeepers frequently developed urinary tract infections because of this.
Representatives for Wedaa did not immediately respond to Insider's request for comment.
