Hourly Amazon workers in Pennsylvania who were screened for COVID-19 before their shifts will be paid automatically from Amazon's records under a $3 million class action settlement; there is no claim form to file. The settlement is pending final approval, and October 15, 2026 is the deadline to opt out.
What Is This Settlement About?
Amazon has agreed to pay $3 million to resolve a class action alleging it did not pay hourly workers in Pennsylvania for the time they spent in mandatory COVID-19 health screenings before their shifts. The case was filed in 2023 in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. A judge granted the settlement preliminary approval in June 2026.The complaint alleged that Amazon required hourly employees at its Pennsylvania facilities to complete a health screening before they could clock in — a process the named plaintiff said typically took 10 to 15 minutes per shift, including the wait in line — and did not compensate workers for that off-the-clock time, in violation of Pennsylvania wage law. Court filings describe a class of more than 30,000 Pennsylvania hourly workers.
Amazon denied the allegations, arguing that any time spent off the clock was minimal, particularly after its sites adopted temperature screening through thermal cameras. The court did not rule on the merits. The parties reached the proposed settlement after mediation, and Amazon agreed to pay $3 million to resolve the claims without admitting wrongdoing.
Who Qualifies?
The settlement class covers hourly Amazon employees who worked in Pennsylvania and underwent COVID-19 health screenings before their shifts. Eligibility is determined from Amazon's own employment and payroll records, so qualifying workers do not need to prove they were screened or submit any documentation.Reporting on the settlement indicates the class reaches workers employed before July 19, 2023. It does not matter whether you still work for Amazon or have since left — if you were an hourly Pennsylvania employee screened during the covered period, you are included unless you opt out. The exact class definition and dates are set out in the court-approved settlement notice, which class members should review when it is mailed.
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How Much Can You Get?
Individual payments have not been announced as a single per-person figure. The $3 million fund is divided among the class after court-approved deductions for attorneys' fees, litigation costs, settlement administration, and any service award. Because the class exceeds 30,000 workers, payments are expected to be modest and are typically allocated on a pro rata basis — workers who logged more covered workweeks generally receive a larger share.Payments are automatic. Once the settlement receives final court approval and any appeal period passes, the settlement administrator distributes payments to class members who did not opt out. There is no claim form to complete.
How Do You Get Paid? (No Claim Form)
This is an automatic-payment settlement, so there is nothing to file. If you are in the class and do not opt out, your payment will be sent to you after final approval. The most useful thing you can do is make sure the settlement administrator has your current mailing address, especially if you have moved since you worked at Amazon, so your payment reaches you.Details on how to update your address and the final payment timeline will appear on the official settlement website and in the mailed notice once they are issued. We will update this page with the official settlement website and administrator as soon as they are available.
Key Deadlines
Class members who want to opt out — to preserve the right to sue Amazon separately over the same unpaid-screening claims — must submit a written exclusion request by October 15, 2026. Workers who opt out will not receive a settlement payment. Anyone who wants a payment does not need to take any action. The court must still grant final approval before payments are distributed.Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to file a claim?
No. This is an automatic-payment settlement. As long as you do not opt out, you will automatically receive a payment after the settlement receives final court approval. Just make sure the administrator has a current mailing address for you.
Who qualifies for the settlement?
Hourly Amazon employees who worked in Pennsylvania and underwent pre-shift COVID-19 health screenings. Court filings describe a class of more than 30,000 Pennsylvania hourly workers, identified from Amazon's records — no proof of screening is needed.
What did the lawsuit allege?
That Amazon required hourly Pennsylvania workers to complete COVID-19 health screenings before clocking in — about 10 to 15 minutes per shift including time in line — and did not pay them for that time, in violation of Pennsylvania wage law. Amazon denied wrongdoing and called the off-the-clock time minimal.
What is the deadline to opt out?
Class members who want to opt out must submit a written exclusion request by October 15, 2026. Opting out preserves your right to sue separately but means you will not receive a payment.
Sources
• Amazon agrees to pay $3 million in Pennsylvania class-action settlement over unpaid wages, The Philadelphia Inquirer (June 22, 2026)• Amazon Workers Ink $3M Deal In COVID Screening Wage Suit, Law360 (June 2026)
• Amazon Workers Seek Settlement Approval in Covid-Screening Suit, Bloomberg Law (2026)
• Proposed settlement and preliminary approval, U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania
