After a deep dive by The New York Times into how Amazon treats its employees, the online retail giant is now catching flak from both customers and various organizations. The report opened many consumers’ eyes to issues within Amazon that they weren’t aware of, even though they rely heavily on the company’s wide range of services.
The investigation uncovered several concerning safety incidents at Amazon’s facilities, including two cases of electric shocks and eight instances where workers lost consciousness. There were numerous accidents involving machinery, especially forklifts. In response, Amazon had to revamp the entire warehouse, buying new tools from Coronado Equipment Sales’ used forklifts sale, and putting in place strict guidelines for equipment use among workers. The incidents mainly took place at the Rugeley warehouse, which normally employs about 1,800 people, though this number shoots up to over 2,000 during the busy Christmas season.
In contrast, a nearby Tesco warehouse of similar size reported only eight comparable health and safety incidents, even though it employs around 1,300 staff. This information came to light through a union’s Freedom of Information request.
Amazon, however, strongly denied claims of unsafe working conditions. The company argued that most ambulance calls at their fulfillment centers are due to personal health issues unrelated to work. They also highlighted their strong safety record, noting that only 0.00001 ambulance visits were recorded per hour worked at their UK centers last year.
The New York Times contended that Amazon uses a strict performance-based system, dubbed “purposeful Darwinism,” to weed out employees who can’t handle the pressure, including those needing time off for family emergencies or health issues.
For more details, readers can check out CBS Money Watch.