3 ms·
Interesting that we—and I include myself, too—are immediately skeptical of anything other than Amazon finding some "immoral" way to squeeze more juice from the
by basseq 8y ago
Interesting that we—and I include myself, too—are immediately skeptical of anything other than Amazon finding some "immoral" way to squeeze more juice from the lemon that is the American workforce.
It is worth noting that the person with disabilities is quoted as saying he makes "above minimum wage". Likewise, later in the article:
> Likewise, Northwest Center employees and those it places with Amazon are paid at least minimum wage.
And indeed, I suspect this is the "double-bottom line" motive. Community impact is all well and good, but it has to serve the business as well. In this case, it's good PR, but it's also tapping a new talent pool to hire from. An Amazon rep is quoted saying same:
>... “a hybrid of a business need and a philanthropic opportunity.”
- 908087 8y agoFrom the article, it sounds like they only started paying them minimum wage after they were legally forced to in 2018. This wasn't something Northwest Center or Amazon decided to do on their own.
- atdrummond 8y agoI was skeptical not due to Amazon but rather the involvement of the NC. I also am not sure which minimum wage is being referred to - the sheltered workshop wage (a few dollars per hour and federal law, not the state subminimum law), the Seattle minimum wage or the federal minimum ($10.35 and only applies with the sheltered workshop exemption.) Since the NC was caught violating state and city laws, they've claimed they don't have to comply with said regulations as their workers are contractors and only federal disability and wage law applies to them. In that case, the minimum is $10.35 - unless the sheltered workshop exemption is invoked, in which case the wage is a few dollars per hour. Those few dollars are still above the statutory subminimum wage, so the quote could refer to the sheltered workshop wage and still be true.