The employee, whose name was not disclosed, says Amazon told her she would need to continue working with the manager and not discuss the incident if she wanted to keep her job. She told KIRO Newsradio that she reported the assault to human resources two days after it happened.

According to the lawsuit, the alleged assault occurred in her hotel room after an Amazon-funded work event and subsequent outings. The complaint says she refused sex and protested, but the manager raped her. The allegations have not been tested in court.

The employee also reported the incident to New York City police the day after contacting Amazon and underwent a sexual-assault examination, according to the complaint. The lawsuit says she gave police a condom left behind by the manager, and testing found male DNA. It also alleges the manager initially denied having sex with her, then told police he was too intoxicated to remember.

Her attorney, Jay Free, said the police investigation was closed after detectives exhausted leads. Free said a detective told him the case faced the criminal standard of proof beyond a reasonable doubt.

Amazon concluded its own investigation in December 2023 and found, according to the complaint, insufficient evidence that the manager had violated company policy. The employee alleges the company failed to conduct a reasonable investigation, including by not interviewing key witnesses.

The employee says she eventually left her position for another role at Amazon, losing career progress and income. Her lawsuit seeks damages for lost wages and benefits, future earnings and emotional harm; the amount would be determined at trial.

The case raises questions about how employers respond when workers report sexual assault by colleagues, particularly when the accused holds a senior role. Amazon had been contacted for comment, but no response was included in the report.