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Amazon warehouses are ‘cult-like’ sweatshops run by robots: ex-employee

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Re: Amazon warehouses are ‘cult-like’ sweatshops run by robots: ex-employee

#11

Post by 9HZZRfNlpR »

supercanuck wrote: post #3
rpiguy wrote: post #2

Article is ruined by sensationalism, but I’d expect no less from the NY Post. It is a shame because I am sure there are real issues with Amazon warehouses, but choosing an employee who took a job they are not physically capable of doing and then focusing on her really detracts from the story. Complaining about the cult-like “great place to work” brainwashing? Welcome to all of corporate America...

The point of the article seems to be to warn people that they are not physically capable of doing these things and to explain the human toll of a job like this. Why so sensitive to Amazon?

Because people work day and day out shitty doing shitty manual labour without people even noticing them. Having worked there fur very long the whole article is just big whining, for some reason Amazon warehouses is a popular subject.

Re: Amazon warehouses are ‘cult-like’ sweatshops run by robots: ex-employee

#12

Post by supercanuck »

9HZZRfNlpR wrote: post #11
supercanuck wrote: post #3

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The point of the article seems to be to warn people that they are not physically capable of doing these things and to explain the human toll of a job like this. Why so sensitive to Amazon?

Because people work day and day out shitty doing shitty manual labour without people even noticing them. Having worked there fur very long the whole article is just big whining, for some reason Amazon warehouses is a popular subject.

And those people deserve to be treated with respect and dignity too.

Re: Amazon warehouses are ‘cult-like’ sweatshops run by robots: ex-employee

#13

Post by krapp »

_8j50 wrote: post #10
krapp wrote: post #9

Earlier quoted context omitted.

>Why not have more break areas? Break areas don't generate revenue. FCs are designed around efficient product flow first, people second. If employees have to waste fifteen minutes of a half hour break walking to and from the break room as a result, then they can just walk faster. But not run, that's a safety hazard. >Why not let people take a lot of breaks, so long as their performance metric is on point? Actually...…

> Break areas don't generate revenue. FCs are designed around efficient product flow first, people second Neither do toilets. You literally set a side a small room with table, chairs and Microwave. There is a lot of things that don't generate revenue but you do them anyways to prevent revenue and reputation loss . Like security guards,cameras,parking lots,etc... These things support the people and process that genera…

They skimp on toilets too. They tend to skimp on anything they can legally get away with - "frugality" is a company mantra, after all.

And you're right, they could afford to be more flexible with employee time and productivity might rise, but that's just not their culture. Their culture is that employees are responsible for meeting expectations, no excuses. If they want productivity to rise, they just raise quotas and crack down on time off task. They complain about the cost of the pain medication employees use from the dispensary. They abuse trialware because they don't want to pay for the licenses. That's just who they are.

This is a company that will assign you to indefinite six day, twelve hour weeks if business needs call for it, but will complain if you're a minute late from break. It's possible that bad press or not wanting to be the Democrats' straw villain in 2020 might cause policies to drift in a more progressive direction, though.

>It's easy to pick on Amazon but your run of the mill warehouse job is always worse and pays half as much

That's true. To be fair, the base wage is extremely competitive in most markets for entry level work, and the health insurance is really good, and most people aren't peeing in bottles and the like. But even then, "it's not literally the worst possible job" is kind of damning with faint praise.

Re: Amazon warehouses are ‘cult-like’ sweatshops run by robots: ex-employee

#15

Post by Jax2_Hannah »

klyrs wrote: post #6
rpiguy wrote: post #2

Article is ruined by sensationalism, but I’d expect no less from the NY Post. It is a shame because I am sure there are real issues with Amazon warehouses, but choosing an employee who took a job they are not physically capable of doing and then focusing on her really detracts from the story. Complaining about the cult-like “great place to work” brainwashing? Welcome to all of corporate America...

> choosing an employee who took a job they are not physically capable of doing and then focusing on her really detracts from the story. Only, she's middle aged and has a life history of hard work. She comments about this being young people's work (taking a weird swerve to diss menudo; my least favorite detail in the article) -- but the awful truth is that young folk who take jobs like this suffer that wear and tear l…

Very good point here. I started at age 26, which by her standards is too old for this job, and no one could tell the difference between my age and a 20 year old. >some employers focus on making their workplace a positive experience; others require their managers to proclaim that it's a positive experience during onboarding I've never heard any of my managers say this is a great place to work. Some might be enthusiastic, and others might do things for us, like start a potluck every month. Overall, I'd say my managers all did well when I worked under them.

Re: Amazon warehouses are ‘cult-like’ sweatshops run by robots: ex-employee

#17

Post by MiguelFCA »

So I work at an Amazon fulfillment center and I experience is really different. I can go to the bathroom when ever I need and get 2 thirty min breaks one of which is paid. We have fans in the FC the only time i ever get spoken to about going to the bath room is when i make a conscious decision to talk to my friends at other at stations and I take for ever to get to my station. I dont know how other FCs operate but not of this article resonates with me...

Re: Amazon warehouses are ‘cult-like’ sweatshops run by robots: ex-employee

#18

Post by Jax2_Hannah »

_8j50 wrote: post #10
krapp wrote: post #9

Earlier quoted context omitted.

>Why not have more break areas? Break areas don't generate revenue. FCs are designed around efficient product flow first, people second. If employees have to waste fifteen minutes of a half hour break walking to and from the break room as a result, then they can just walk faster. But not run, that's a safety hazard. >Why not let people take a lot of breaks, so long as their performance metric is on point? Actually...…

> Break areas don't generate revenue. FCs are designed around efficient product flow first, people second Neither do toilets. You literally set a side a small room with table, chairs and Microwave. There is a lot of things that don't generate revenue but you do them anyways to prevent revenue and reputation loss . Like security guards,cameras,parking lots,etc... These things support the people and process that genera…

If you've seen my bathrooms here, you would change your mind. Some of them have 3 stalls (for women), and others have too many for me to remember. I'll be sure to count them one day though. >There is a lot of things that don't generate revenue but you do them anyways to prevent revenue and reputation loss. I wholeheartedly agree with your point here. If people actually have time to take a break, they will be more productive than without a break at all.I've heard some of my coworkers say if they want to hit a certain goal, they would need to skip their 2nd or 3rd break. But I'm proof that this theory is false. My rate from 1st period to 2nd period increased dramatically after taking a full break.

Re: Amazon warehouses are ‘cult-like’ sweatshops run by robots: ex-employee

#19

Post by MiguelFCA »

supercanuck wrote: post #12
9HZZRfNlpR wrote: post #11

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Because people work day and day out shitty doing shitty manual labour without people even noticing them. Having worked there fur very long the whole article is just big whining, for some reason Amazon warehouses is a popular subject.

And those people deserve to be treated with respect and dignity too.

We do get treated with dignity and respect. In my FC I have never felt like i wasnt. I have great relationships with all my associates. I feel like some many news articles go for negative attention and Amazon is an easy target for people to report on and get lots of attention.

Re: Amazon warehouses are ‘cult-like’ sweatshops run by robots: ex-employee

#20

Post by JAX2_Robin »

solidasparagus wrote: post #7

This feels like an overly negative article. Maybe it's just me, but it seems like the author was unhappy with some pretty innocent things - stretching, being instructed how to bend in a way that doesn't do long-term damage, having managers that emphasized staying hydrated, having to wear gloves to handle the merchandise. Other things seem like the normal shitty reality of manual labor jobs - she complains that her 1…

THANK YOU!!!! Why is it only the negative articles from former employees get attention? There is never any effort put into talking to someone who is currently employed with Amazon and likes their job. In any other circumstance a "former" employees story would be viewed as potentially biased, but if Amazon is mentioned it becomes gospel. It IS hard manual labor and not everyone is cut out for that...but just because you can't hack it doesn't make it evil. Yes, I thought I was going to die the first few weeks, but now that my body had grown accustomed to it I truly enjoy it and they are paying ME to work out as opposed to needing a gym membership. I am in control of my own success, I'm not responsible for anyone but me. If I work hard and someone else is slacking it reflects on them. In my previous working life I was in the dental field. People were treated the same whether or not they worked at 110% or just showed up for a check. The more and more I did the more and more that was expected of me with no additional compensation. I left stressed and dreaded going to work ALL THE TIME!! I leave Amazon at the door when I walk out and I have never dreaded going into work. I've made great friends who ALSO enjoy their jobs. I'm a very social person and yes sometimes 3 1/4 hours alone in my head on a station can make me crazy, but most of the time the it flies by. The furthest I've been from a restroom is a 4 minute walk which I can take whenever I want. My biggest complaint...no music which leaves me singing in my head usually based on whatever item I've just picked, too often that’s Baby Shark. I disagree that music is a safety hazard, but music IS being piloted at other facilities and I'm good with knowing it's coming, that's progress. Twice the minimum wage and a killer benefit package with better coverage than I've ever had. College paid for at 90% should I elect to finish my degree. At this point in my life I would NEVER put myself first and do that without the Career Choice program. And as far as the Menudo comment…I’m a 58 year old grandma so there’s that!!
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