Amazon fires two UX designers critical of warehouse working conditions

Post by rglullis » Tue, Apr 14, 2020, 8:56 PM UTC

NotSammyHagar wrote: post #288

cirno wrote: post #156

> “We support every employee’s right to criticize their employer’s working conditions,” a spokesperson said, “but that does not come with blanket immunity against any and all internal policies.” What a strange statement. "We support their right to criticize their working conditions, only actually we don't at all"

Why is amazon so clueless. These firings seems like bad policy, seem to be very likely illegal (they have so much money it won't matter though to pay fines). And it's terrible PR. And for people that pay attention (including hacker news people) it makes them look terrible. Four bad outcomes. All they do is "remove a troublemaker" from their standpoint. Why not just address the issues? They look like they want to brin…

Post by beastman82 » Tue, Apr 14, 2020, 8:58 PM UTC

mav3rick wrote: post #179

epicureanideal wrote: post #30

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Not to worry, they'll simply say they have a "talent shortage" and ask the government to help supply them with workers whose situations are so desperate they won't think about the company's business practices. (Note, this is not actually a jab at Amazon in particular.)

I know this is an attack on H1bs. Many H1Bs have multiple offers from FAANGS at market rate. Whatever woe you have in your life, please stop blaming immigrants for it.

Post by A4ET8a8uTh0 » Tue, Apr 14, 2020, 9:02 PM UTC

filoleg wrote: post #273

SaxonRobber wrote: post #159

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It is my experience that everyone who self identifies as a republican or democrat is brainwashed at this point. The worst offenders are those who are so delusional that they mock anyone who avoids political discourse or abstains from voting. They are so high on political fumes that they can’t imagine that there are things more important than our cancerous political process.

From my observations (total anecdata, I am aware), those pro-specific-party people also usually don't tend to participate in politics on more local levels at all (county, state, etc.), despite the fact that those are imo way more impactful and can lead to changes "trickling up" all the way to the national level. Most of the people I personally know who vote in county/state elections can be best described as independe…

Post by a1369209993 » Tue, Apr 14, 2020, 9:04 PM UTC

burrows wrote: post #268

a1369209993 wrote: post #233

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That sort of conflation is defensible when someone actually says "First Amendment", but the parent was clearly talking about the fundumental human right to free speech that that first amendment imperfectly protects, not about a particular legal establishment of it.

Amazon isn’t threatening the men with guns, so their natural right to free speech isn’t violated.

Post by aabeshou » Tue, Apr 14, 2020, 9:06 PM UTC

crispyambulance wrote: post #294

aabeshou wrote: post #69

Earlier quoted context omitted.

the point isn't "do companies have the legal power to do this" the point is "is it right?" if you lack the moral imagination to consider how the world could be if not for current oppressive power structures, or you blame whistleblowers because "they should have known there'd be consequences," then you're what some like to call "a bootlicker"

I am suggesting that they probably knew the consequences and were OK with the possibility they'd get fired. That's not "blaming the whistleblowers". I actually admire them for taking a stand and accepting the consequences. Amazon should be protecting their warehouse workers. Taking a stand, getting fired under media spot-light for it is actually a really powerful message against Amazon.