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I don't think Amazon treats their employees badly. Warehouse workers aren't compensated like software engineers, but what do you expect? I'm sure there are shi

I don't think Amazon treats their employees badly. Warehouse workers aren't compensated like software engineers, but what do you expect? I'm sure there are shitty managers at Amazon (in warehouses and in software) but by and large I believe blue collar Amazon workers have it about as well as blue collar workers everywhere. Maybe better. I don't really see the problem here.

butlike 9mo ago
Amazon could remove the timer on bathroom breaks to restore some of their humanity, e.g.
JoshTriplett 9mo ago
The issue isn't about pay. It's about measuring so aggressively and turning the screws until you extract every last bit of value out of someone. If a company is measuring the duration and frequency of bathroom breaks (to pick one of many examples that's been highlighted in the press), something has gone fundamentally wrong.
- sailfast 9mo ago
  This. Humans are people, not machines. They are your neighbors. They deserve dignity. Exploiting people’s desperation for full employment is wrong.
wat10000 9mo ago
Low-wage workers are generally treated pretty badly. Maybe Amazon is the same as the rest, but that doesn't mean they treat their workers well.
sailfast 9mo ago
What if I mentioned to you that a solid chunk of those employees could be given a couple of shares of stock that made a few lucky people billionaires - some that still work there - and it would be a life-changing amount of money? In addition to some truly gnarly stories / conditions and their staunch anti-Union stance it is also a relativity issue. There is much to go around but it’s not always spread around with consideration for your employees. And there really isn’t a good reason for that in my opinion. I hear the argument “well I guess they don’t deliver as much value / leverage for the company as others”. I get it, but at a certain point that rings as a completely hollow and greedy justification. Where that is for you is subjective. But for me? Where there are billionaires there is room for generosity.

butlike 9mo ago

Amazon could remove the timer on bathroom breaks to restore some of their humanity, e.g.

JoshTriplett 9mo ago

The issue isn't about pay. It's about measuring so aggressively and turning the screws until you extract every last bit of value out of someone. If a company is measuring the duration and frequency of bathroom breaks (to pick one of many examples that's been highlighted in the press), something has gone fundamentally wrong.

sailfast 9mo ago
This. Humans are people, not machines. They are your neighbors. They deserve dignity. Exploiting people’s desperation for full employment is wrong.

wat10000 9mo ago

Low-wage workers are generally treated pretty badly. Maybe Amazon is the same as the rest, but that doesn't mean they treat their workers well.

sailfast 9mo ago

What if I mentioned to you that a solid chunk of those employees could be given a couple of shares of stock that made a few lucky people billionaires - some that still work there - and it would be a life-changing amount of money? In addition to some truly gnarly stories / conditions and their staunch anti-Union stance it is also a relativity issue. There is much to go around but it’s not always spread around with consideration for your employees. And there really isn’t a good reason for that in my opinion. I hear the argument “well I guess they don’t deliver as much value / leverage for the company as others”. I get it, but at a certain point that rings as a completely hollow and greedy justification. Where that is for you is subjective. But for me? Where there are billionaires there is room for generosity.