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Documents show Amazon is aware drivers pee in bottles and even defecate enroute

theintercept.com

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Re: Documents show Amazon is aware drivers pee in bottles and even defecate enroute

#51

Post by throw10123213 »

User23 wrote: post #9
prpl wrote: post #3

I floated around grocery stores quite a bit in the early/mid 2000s, working at several locations and various jobs. Meth was fairly common among the grocery night stockers, especially in the big stores. Often times management has some idea of this, but it was usually don’t ask, don’t tell, especially in the union stores, until the point somebody wanted a person fired.

I assume some fairly high percentage of FAANG developers are on some kind of lawfully obtained prescription stimulant.

I've also heard legends about such stimulants but it would be quite surprising if this was a 'fairly high percentage'.

Re: Documents show Amazon is aware drivers pee in bottles and even defecate enroute

#52

Post by tareqak »

cletus wrote: post #7

My understanding is that this is pretty common for every courier including UPS and FedEx. Why? Because the driver will have a set of deliveries. Once they’re finished those they’re done for the day. In NYC at least finding a restroom and finding parking (even double parking) beat it takes valuable time. It saves time to pee in a bottle. This just isn’t unique to Amazon is all I’m saying.

I was not aware of this behavior prior to reading this article, but I can absolutely understand the difficulty in finding a parking spot with an available restroom nearby. At the same time, I am surprised that the problem exists in the way that it does on a personal-level: when nature calls me, it is very difficult for me to think of doing anything else.

I can see there being a need for legislation here as this example with Amazon shows that companies will ignore basic human needs if given the chance.

In addition, the problem is possible to solve provided the delivery drivers are given adequate time to do so. Technology can definitely assist the decision-making process: finding public restrooms with available parking along the path of a delivery route and maybe altering the route as required. However, I definitely see there being a need to build additional public restroom facilities and hire staff to maintain them.

Another argument that could be made is that these delivery companies are shifting/not bearing the full burden of hiring employees. An office worker will usually have access to a restroom that is paid for by employer paying rent for their place of business.

Re: Documents show Amazon is aware drivers pee in bottles and even defecate enroute

#53

Post by Igelau »

rscho wrote: post #44
nimbix wrote: post #32

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Some people think TPB is a comedy. Others know it's a documentary.

I used to say that about "scrubs" and no one would believe me.

This is why I never thought The Office was funny.

Re: Documents show Amazon is aware drivers pee in bottles and even defecate enroute

#54

Post by mrits »

JKCalhoun wrote: post #12
mrits wrote: post #2

I think the defecation says more about the driver than the company.

> We understand that DA’s [driver associates] may have emergencies while on-road, and especially during Covid, DAs have struggled to find bathrooms while delivering. > Halie Marie Brown ... told The Intercept that the practice “happens because we are literally implicitly forced to do so, otherwise we will end up losing our jobs for too many ‘undelivered packages.’” Sounds like there may be a little more to it than yo…

There really isn't. Peeing in a bottle has been going on for decades in UPS/FedEX. Actually pooping in your truck and putting all of your customers at risk of disease so you can meet your quota is not sane human behavior.

Re: Documents show Amazon is aware drivers pee in bottles and even defecate enroute

#55

Post by Igelau »

samsquire wrote: post #13

I'm happy to pay more for deliveries if people have time to take a leisurely comfort break. We need privatized toilets where you review the person ahead of you for how clean they left the toilet. Unlock the door with a special PIN.

Uber Yelp for pooping.

Re: Documents show Amazon is aware drivers pee in bottles and even defecate enroute

#56

Post by heelix »

I rent a small 2 seater airplane. On long cross countries where the wind causes problems, it is not uncommon for the fuel to last longer than the bladder. Our rental shop had to put out a similar message - if you used a pee bottle, don't leave it in the plane. Most of the time you find that 'half drunk bottle of yellow Gatorade'.... it was not.

Re: Documents show Amazon is aware drivers pee in bottles and even defecate enroute

#57

Post by SonOfKyuss »

moduspol wrote: post #40
cletus wrote: post #7

My understanding is that this is pretty common for every courier including UPS and FedEx. Why? Because the driver will have a set of deliveries. Once they’re finished those they’re done for the day. In NYC at least finding a restroom and finding parking (even double parking) beat it takes valuable time. It saves time to pee in a bottle. This just isn’t unique to Amazon is all I’m saying.

I think any organization that actually incentivizes employees to complete small, objectively-measurable tasks quickly will have stories like this once you've got enough employees. Unless you keep cameras on them at all times, I guess. These stories are always framed this way as if only someone truly desperate would stoop to peeing in bottles. But to many people, peeing in a bottle is actually not a big deal and is, i…

> Unless you keep cameras on them at all times…

Funny you should mention that.

https://www.bbc.com/news/amp/technology-55938494

Re: Documents show Amazon is aware drivers pee in bottles and even defecate enroute

#58

Post by xzel »

Igelau wrote: post #55
samsquire wrote: post #13

I'm happy to pay more for deliveries if people have time to take a leisurely comfort break. We need privatized toilets where you review the person ahead of you for how clean they left the toilet. Unlock the door with a special PIN.

Uber Yelp for pooping.

Wasn't there an app that did this? You could review public toilet and mark stores that let people use their toilet.

Re: Documents show Amazon is aware drivers pee in bottles and even defecate enroute

#59

Post by CharlesW »

ericmcer wrote: post #49
WrtCdEvrydy wrote: post #29

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You're not considered a low grade commodity like these companies consider their workers.

Yes surely if these truckers were valued more Amazon would... install bathrooms in every van? Add a series of Amazon only toilets all over the country for drivers?

> Add a series of Amazon only toilets all over the country for drivers?

Why not? Every Amazon Locker could have an Amazon Pooper.

Re: Documents show Amazon is aware drivers pee in bottles and even defecate enroute

#60

Post by djur »

evan_ wrote: post #46
vsskanth wrote: post #36

How do UPS USPS and FedEx drivers tackle this issue ? Restroom access is a problem and it's important to come up with some proposals especially if we want more women to be able to work these jobs

My observation is that they use restrooms in office buildings on their route. Idk what they do on residential routes.

And one of the emails here notes that the problem has worsened with the pandemic, since office buildings are often closed. That checks out, at least.
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