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Amazon to force 'voluntary resignation' on workers who don't relocate

businessinsider.com

21–30 of 106 posts

Re: Amazon to force 'voluntary resignation' on workers who don't relocate

#22

"In employment law, constructive dismissal, also called constructive discharge or constructive termination, occurs when an employee resigns as a result of the employer creating a hostile work environment. Since the resignation was not truly voluntary, it is, in effect, a termination. For example, when an employer places extraordinary and unreasonable work demands on an employee to obtain their resignation, this can c…

That matters when employees have contracts promising termination only with cause. But these employees are likely all at-will; they can be fired for having the wrong hair cut.

Re: Amazon to force 'voluntary resignation' on workers who don't relocate

#23
post #12

How can they force their employees to resign, if they're going back on the terms they made before? I'm not familiar with American labour laws but this sounds illegal.

I do not know how they can do this also, but it depends upon the State.

I think "blue" states Amazon would not be able to do this, "red" states I think anything goes. Red State Gov. only cares about not giving poor people money.

Re: Amazon to force 'voluntary resignation' on workers who don't relocate

#24
post #17

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Still a firing, false choice etc...

> Still a firing, false choice etc... Why do you view it as a false choice?

Because saying "you can keep your job if you uproot your life" isn't a fair choice.

Re: Amazon to force 'voluntary resignation' on workers who don't relocate

#25

"In employment law, constructive dismissal, also called constructive discharge or constructive termination, occurs when an employee resigns as a result of the employer creating a hostile work environment. Since the resignation was not truly voluntary, it is, in effect, a termination. For example, when an employer places extraordinary and unreasonable work demands on an employee to obtain their resignation, this can c…

I'm a remote worker who would quit before returning to the office. But even so I can't interpret a requirement to be non-remote as "a hostile work environment", "extraordinary", or "unreasonable". But yes, it does look more like a termination than a voluntary resignation.

Re: Amazon to force 'voluntary resignation' on workers who don't relocate

#26
post #22

"In employment law, constructive dismissal, also called constructive discharge or constructive termination, occurs when an employee resigns as a result of the employer creating a hostile work environment. Since the resignation was not truly voluntary, it is, in effect, a termination. For example, when an employer places extraordinary and unreasonable work demands on an employee to obtain their resignation, this can c…

That matters when employees have contracts promising termination only with cause. But these employees are likely all at-will; they can be fired for having the wrong hair cut.

Constructive dismissals aren’t necessarily illegal, they’re just not resignations. A “resignation” that is actually a constructive dismissal would usually qualify that employee for any legal benefits they’d receive as a fired employee, like unemployment.

Re: Amazon to force 'voluntary resignation' on workers who don't relocate

#27

How a forced "voluntary resignation" is different from a being fired? is it some corporate euphemism or is it a thing?

> How a forced "voluntary resignation" is different from a being fired? is it some corporate euphemism or is it a thing? It is different in that you have a choice. You can either adapt to the new policy (work conditions change) or you can leave. Totally up to you.

Seems more than a little debatable to me... could my employer require me to move to Alaska? if it's not in my employment contract, isn't it up to them to renegotiate or fire me?

Re: Amazon to force 'voluntary resignation' on workers who don't relocate

#28

How a forced "voluntary resignation" is different from a being fired? is it some corporate euphemism or is it a thing?

I don't have access to this article, I would take it as changing conditions or duties to the least pleasant or practical that still fit within the terms of employment.

For example required on premises work, assignment to undesirable projects, moving to a different office.

Re: Amazon to force 'voluntary resignation' on workers who don't relocate

#29
It's not about being in the office, innovation, or any of that BS. It's about control. The employer cannot control what they cannot see and monitor. In their minds, WFH employees are getting the job done but the risk to security, working for competitors simultaneously, or themselves for that matter on company time, and it instills this paranoia. Power has shifted to the employee and now the employer is working to take it back.

Re: Amazon to force 'voluntary resignation' on workers who don't relocate

#30
post #22

"In employment law, constructive dismissal, also called constructive discharge or constructive termination, occurs when an employee resigns as a result of the employer creating a hostile work environment. Since the resignation was not truly voluntary, it is, in effect, a termination. For example, when an employer places extraordinary and unreasonable work demands on an employee to obtain their resignation, this can c…

That matters when employees have contracts promising termination only with cause. But these employees are likely all at-will; they can be fired for having the wrong hair cut.

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