Amazon's Dark Secret: Breaking Employment Laws?

Amazon, the world's largest company, has been accused of breaking employment laws and exploiting its workers. The company's warehouses have been described as having grueling work conditions, with reports of long hours, timed bathroom breaks, intense isolation, and physically demanding quotas. Amazon has also been accused of union-busting, cancelling shifts with no guarantee of pay, and exposing workers to unsafe conditions. With a median wage of $35,096 for American Amazon employees in 2018, there is a stark contrast between the experiences of workers and the net worth of Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, estimated to be around $165 billion.

Amazon's use of surveillance to deter union efforts

Amazon has been accused of using surveillance to deter union efforts. In May 2024, workers at a Missouri warehouse filed an unfair labour practice charge with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), alleging that the company uses "intrusive algorithms and other workplace controls and surveillance" to interfere with their rights to engage in protected concerted activity.

The research paper by the Open Markets Institute (OMI) supports these claims, stating that Amazon uses various tools such as navigation software, item scanners, wristbands, thermal cameras, and security cameras to surveil its employees in warehouses and stores. It also mentions that Amazon creates heat maps and uses data such as team member sentiment and a diversity index to identify stores with a higher risk of unionizing.

Amazon's surveillance practices have raised concerns about the invasion of privacy and the negative impact on workers' ability to advocate for better working conditions. The OMI paper recommends prohibiting invasive forms of worker surveillance and requiring approval from state and federal agencies for any tracking measures that do not harm employees.

Additionally, Amazon has been accused of other labour violations, including exposing workers to unsafe conditions and ergonomic hazards, grueling work conditions, intense isolation, physically demanding quotas, and toxic workplace cultures. These issues have led to increased scrutiny of the company's treatment of its employees.

While Amazon has denied some of the allegations and emphasised its commitment to employee health and safety, the company continues to face criticism and legal challenges regarding its labour practices and surveillance of its workforce.

Exploited workers and unsafe working conditions

Amazon has been accused of exploiting its workers and exposing them to unsafe working conditions. The company's warehouses have been reported to have injury rates 2.5 times higher than the national average for warehouses. In 2021, Amazon warehouses had an injury rate of 7.7 per 100 workers, compared to 4.0 for all other warehouses.

The US Department of Labor and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) have cited Amazon for exposing workers to unsafe conditions and ergonomic hazards at several warehouses in the US. OSHA investigators found that workers were exposed to a high risk of low back injuries and other musculoskeletal disorders due to the frequency of lifting packages, the weight of items handled, awkward twisting and bending, and long hours.

Amazon workers have reported grueling work conditions, including long hours, timed bathroom breaks, surveillance of work productivity and speed, isolation, and physically demanding quotas. The company has also been accused of cancelling shifts at the last minute and not guaranteeing pay for agency workers, which breaches its own employment policies.

In addition to issues in its warehouses, Amazon has also been criticized for labor abuses in its corporate offices and throughout its global supply chain. A 2015 expose described Amazon's offices as prioritizing productivity and efficacy over the well-being of employees, pushing them to their physical, mental, and emotional limits.

Amazon's supply chain, which stretches across continents, has been reported to violate workers' safety, dignity, and privacy, with workers in factories and distribution centers facing dangerous and dehumanizing working conditions. Investigations have revealed illegal practices in Chinese factories producing Amazon devices, including endless night shifts and underpayment. Amazon has also been criticized for a lack of transparency regarding the treatment of workers in its global supply chain, making it difficult for consumers and activists to assess the company's labor practices.

Amazon's cancellation of workers' shifts at the last minute

Amazon has been accused of breaking its own employment policies by cancelling workers' shifts at the last minute. An investigation by The Bureau of Investigative Journalism found that workers received far fewer shifts than indicated in job advertisements, leaving them with too few hours to make the job viable. One worker described trying to get the wages she was owed as "a nightmare".

The Bureau's investigation compared employment terms from 9,000 new Amazon UK job advertisements with the experiences of actual workers. It was found that Amazon was leaving agency workers with no guarantee of pay for 20 hours' work per week. This practice has been called out, with employees being treated like "disposable labour".

Amazon responded to the investigation, stating that their "agency terms are explicit that [they] do not engage individuals on zero-hour contracts". However, the Bureau claimed that thousands of Amazon warehouse jobs advertised through Adecco are zero-hour contracts, while those employed via PMP Recruitment are on "minimum-hours contracts", which do not guarantee weekly or monthly hours.

Amazon offers a variety of shift options for its associates, including early morning, day, evening, overnight, and weekend shifts. These shifts can be permanent, seasonal, full-time, part-time, or reduced-time, and some shifts offer higher pay per hour.

Amazon's failure to pay workers for hours worked

Amazon has been accused of failing to pay workers for hours worked, with several reports and investigations uncovering issues with the company's payroll system.

In one instance, an Amazon warehouse worker in Oklahoma, Tara Jones, noticed that she had been underpaid by a significant amount. Jones had recently given birth, and while still in the hospital, she checked her pay stub and found that she had received $450 instead of the expected $540. Despite reporting the issue, the mistake kept repeating. Jones eventually emailed Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, which triggered an internal investigation. The investigation revealed that the problem was not isolated and that Amazon had been shortchanging new parents, patients dealing with medical crises, and other vulnerable workers on leave. As many as 179 Amazon warehouses were potentially affected by these paycheck errors.

Amazon has also been accused of cancelling workers' shifts at the last minute, leaving agency workers without guaranteed pay for 20 hours of work per week. This practice was brought to light by The Bureau of Investigative Journalism, which claimed that Amazon was treating employees "like disposable labour". The investigation compared employment terms from 9,000 new Amazon UK job advertisements with the experiences of actual workers, finding that workers received far fewer shifts than indicated in the ads, making it difficult to earn a viable wage.

In addition to issues with payroll, Amazon has faced criticism for its low wages, particularly in its warehouses. A report by the National Employment Law Project (NELP) found that Amazon warehouse workers in counties with Amazon fulfillment centers earned 26% less than the average for all workers in those counties. The report also revealed that Amazon pays less than other warehouse employers, and its employees' earnings fall far short of average earnings in the counties where they work.

Amazon's low wages have been attributed to the company's ability to take advantage of people's economic vulnerability and the lack of job opportunities in certain areas. The median wage for American Amazon employees in 2018 was $35,096, while Jeff Bezos' net worth is estimated to be around $165 billion. The vast disparity between the compensation of Amazon's leadership and its workers has led to criticism and calls for the company to provide living wages for all employees.

Amazon's failure to protect workers from dangerous chemicals

Amazon has been accused of exposing its workers to unsafe conditions and hazardous chemicals in several of its warehouses. In December 2023, it was reported that workers at Amazon's Spokane warehouse were not properly trained to handle hazardous chemicals or ensure they wore appropriate protective gear, such as eye protection. This was despite Amazon's insistence that all frontline employees receive safety training that covers chemical identification and label reading.

In January 2024, the US Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) cited Amazon for failing to provide safe workplaces in three of its warehouses in Aurora, Colorado; Nampa, Idaho; and Castleton, New York. OSHA investigators found that Amazon warehouse workers were exposed to a high risk of low back injuries and other musculoskeletal disorders due to the heavy items they were required to lift and the awkward twisting, bending, and extending needed to lift them. Long hours and high work frequencies further contributed to these risks.

Amazon has disputed claims of unsafe working conditions and hazardous chemical exposure, stating that they have protocols and procedures to reduce risks associated with hazardous materials and that employees receive annual training on identifying and handling chemicals. However, some workers have reported feeling unsafe and ill-equipped to deal with chemical spills.

In addition to the health and safety concerns, Amazon has also faced criticism for its grueling work conditions, including long hours, timed bathroom breaks, intense isolation, physically demanding quotas, and competitive workplace cultures, which take a toll on workers' physical and mental health.

Amazon's labor abuses are not limited to its warehouses. Reports have also detailed toxic workplace cultures in Amazon's corporate offices, where employees are pushed to their physical, mental, and emotional limits. The company's lack of transparency about how workers are treated throughout its global supply chain makes it challenging for consumers and activists to assess the truth of Amazon's claims of treating employees well.

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