Conditions at Amazon UK

[Russ]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-25034598

I'm looking forward to this on tv tonight.

I worked there a few years back and whilst you can't really complain about paid employment in this day and age the conditions there are awful. I don't understand how the reporter managed to get a hidden camera in there as they have airport-style metal detectors for every member staff as they leave the shop floor.

The place is swelteringly hot and they do provide water stations but you need to drink loads which leads to a lot of toilet breaks. The toilets are tucked away in the corners and the place is so large (around 3/4 mile square) that a round trip (just the walking) is 7 or 8 minutes and this eats in to everyone's target times, which management will then hassle the staff about.

[Osem]

Wonder if it'll stop anyone using Amazon.

[denphone]

Originally Posted by Osem

Wonder if it'll stop anyone using Amazon.

Not in a million years.

[Russ]

Unfortunately not or at least if it does then the effect will be minimal. Amazon is generally regarded as one of the best places to shop online, they sell almost everything and they are giving people much-needed employment. People will see a different side to Amazon tonight but it's unlikely to change shopping habits.

[Osem]

Originally Posted by denphone

Not in a million years.

No I didn't think so either. Some folks might boycott some coffee shop or other for a couple of weeks but seem rather more forgiving when the company concerned supplies all their nice goodies at reasonable prices...

[denphone]

Originally Posted by Osem

No I didn't think so either. Some folks might boycott some coffee shop or other for a couple of weeks but seem rather more forgiving when the company concerned supplies all their nice goodies at reasonable prices...

Yes indeed Osem as l am not going to deny that we ourselves have picked up many a bargain on Amazon and we have no intention of changing that habit.

[nomadking]

Originally Posted by Russ

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-25034598

I'm looking forward to this on tv tonight.

I worked there a few years back and whilst you can't really complain about paid employment in this day and age the conditions there are awful. I don't understand how the reporter managed to get a hidden camera in there as they have airport-style metal detectors for every member staff as they leave the shop floor.

The place is swelteringly hot and they do provide water stations but you need to drink loads which leads to a lot of toilet breaks. The toilets are tucked away in the corners and the place is so large (around 3/4 mile square) that a round trip (just the walking) is 7 or 8 minutes and this eats in to everyone's target times, which management will then hassle the staff about.

The metal detectors are obviously there to stop people nicking stuff. If you're losing water by sweating, you won't be passing it out as urine.
I suppose if they didn't have time related targets, the danger is that some staff would take the proverbial and do very little work.

[Russ]

Originally Posted by nomadking

The metal detectors are obviously there to stop people nicking stuff. If you're losing water by sweating, you won't be passing it out as urine.

They make it very clear during the induction that all staff are under suspicion as potential thieves.

If you drink lots, you're going pass it out more.

Originally Posted by nomadking

I suppose if they didn't have time related targets, the danger is that some staff would take the proverbial and do very little work.

Time related targets are healthy, nothing wrong with them but at Amazon people get disciplined for dropping below them too often. No excuses are accepted so if you need to go to the toilet a lot or if you have back pain etc (there are a lot of stairs there especially in the Stowing Tower) it makes no difference.

[Russ]

Oh right. I guess Amazon aren't so bad after all!

[Taf]

My daughter's BF works at the Swansea warehouse, and he is really ticked off with their practices, but a job is a job, especially in that part of the country.

Results of an Open Market Economy and Capitalism

[denphone]

Originally Posted by heero_yuy

I'm not justifying unrealistic targets but unless other companies running the same type of operation are shown to be better or more lenient or set lower targets it's difficult to say that Amazon are somehow the bad boy.

One of my brothers works for a company in Hampshire and l cannot say their practices are any better then Amazon but its a job.

[Russ]

Originally Posted by heero_yuy

I'm not justifying unrealistic targets but unless other companies running the same type of operation are shown to be better or more lenient or set lower targets it's difficult to say that Amazon are somehow the bad boy.

I'm sure Panorama didn't just choose to pluck Amazon's name out of a hat.

[LemonyBrainAid]

I honestly thought the whole 'picking' process was automated by machines. Had no idea there were real people involved in the process.

Who knew the cost of labour was cheaper than the all-in cost of designing a system to automate the process?

Originally Posted by Russ

I'm sure Panorama didn't just choose to pluck Amazon's name out of a hat.

Off course they didnt, they targetted someone they thought everyone would know, for their ratings.

Few people would be interested if it were about "JoeBloggins Ltd".