Some shipping warehouse workers claim they’re expected to work so fast, they can’t even go to the bathroom.

That could soon be illegal in Connecticut.

A bill cracking down on dangerous productivity quotas passed the Connecticut House of Representatives on Wednesday afternoon.

These days, you can order almost anything and get it the next day.

To meet the growing demand, Amazon employs 17,000 workers across Connecticut. The company’s massive fulfillment center in North Haven can ship out a staggering 12 million orders a week.

But some warehouse workers claim the price is safety.

“They cannot go to the bathroom,” Amazon worker Khali Jama told state lawmakers in March 2023. “They work 10 hour shifts, four days a week.”

Shipping warehouses are big business in Connecticut. Amazon alone has invested $9.5 billion at more than a dozen facilities across the state, with a new 3.2-million-square-foot distribution warehouse planned for the Waterbury/Naugatuck Industrial Park.

After years of failed attempts, Connecticut lawmakers are poised to pass sweeping new regulations on the rapidly growing industry.

The Warehouse Workers Protection Act requires companies to clearly explain production quotas – in writing. Workers must be allowed meal or bathroom breaks without penalty.

“Not allowing warehouse operators to use quotas or how employees might perform under a quota operation – using that against them in any way,” said House Majority Leader Jason Rojas (D-East Hartford).

Violators could face lawsuits.

“If you are denying someone the ability to use the bathroom, with this law or another law – I’m sure they'd have a pretty strong cause of action,” said Connecticut House Speaker Matt Ritter (D-Hartford).

Amazon says workers are not forced to meet strict production quotas. The retail giant pays well, too. The average fulfillment worker earns $22 per hour, and even starting employees receive health benefits.

Republicans accused Democrats of creating a problem where none exists.

“There really aren't people coming forward and saying that. We’ve heard from Amazon, in particular, that says they let their employees go to the bathroom,” said House Republican leader Vin Candelora (R-North Branford). “Unions exist for a reason. If there are significant issues, the unions have collective bargaining in order to change work conditions, hourly pay, overtime.”

Amazon also says safety incidents have dropped 28% since 2019, but a recent report from Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vermont) claims that “Amazon’s warehouses are far more dangerous than the company's major competitors” and that “Amazon has chosen to manipulate the data it presents to the public to hide that fact.”

Originally, the bill also including pay for striking workers, like those at Pratt & Whitney.

Democrats said they may try to pass that proposal separately.

“I think people don’t want to see anybody lose their home or be unable to pay their rent or go hungry because they’re on strike,” Ritter said.

But striking worker pay is unlikely to happen. Gov. Ned Lamont vetoed a similar bill last year.

“I have really big concerns about us using tax dollars or the Unemployment Compensation Fund to offset and allow workers to strike,” said Candelora.

The Warehouse Workers Protection Act still needs approval from the Democratic-majority state Senate and Lamont, but both of them support the bill.

The 2025 legislative session ends on June 4.