Amazon has apologized after a chief executive was barred from attending its Innovation Accelerator program because she planned to breastfeed her baby. Rachael Bews, who leads the Scotland-based marketing agency Nu Coton, was informed by event organizers that her infant daughter would pose a health and safety risk.
Bews had made arrangements for childcare for her other two children and purchased train tickets for herself, her husband, and their five-month-old baby to attend the program at Amazon's Dunfermline fulfillment center. She had informed organizers of her intention to nurse her baby throughout the day while her husband cared for the child. Bews had hoped that a space could be found for her husband and baby on the campus during the workshops.
However, Amazon contacted Bews by phone while she was en route to the event, stating that her breastfeeding needs could not be accommodated. An event organizer explained that due to health and safety requirements, babies and young children are not permitted on the industrial site. Bews expressed her disappointment in a LinkedIn post, noting that while she understood the need for safety protocols in an active industrial environment, the outcome prevented her from participating.
Amazon's policy prohibits children under the age of six from entering any of its fulfillment center sites, a long-standing health and safety measure applicable to all visitors and employees. The company acknowledged that the late communication of this policy, combined with its application, led to Bews' inability to participate as planned. An Amazon spokesperson stated that the company sincerely apologizes for the disruption and frustration caused and is reviewing its communication process.
Bews was offered reimbursement for her travel expenses and an invitation to a future program near Manchester. She indicated that she did not want her daughter's generation to face barriers to opportunity due to breastfeeding, caregiving responsibilities, or efforts to balance family life with professional pursuits. The incident has resonated with other women who have shared similar experiences on LinkedIn regarding accommodations for breastfeeding and childcare during professional development opportunities and examinations.