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I work in a distribution center (not one of Amazon's and not on the floor). What they're describing in the article is pretty much industry standard for non-robo
by axgop 13y ago
I work in a distribution center (not one of Amazon's and not on the floor). What they're describing in the article is pretty much industry standard for non-robotic picking. It's a very difficult and demanding job and we're very up front about that. People take the job figuring they can sling a few boxes and a large percent leave within their probationary period because they underestimate the work no matter how much you try to set their expectations.
I'm not saying Amazon is a benevolent employer (we pay well over minimum wage because of the nature of the work), just that nothing in the article was shocking.
- pdx 13y agoThe walking part of it was one of the things that jumped out at me. 15 miles is a hike. To do that every day on concrete would tear you up. Since you work at such a place, what is the feasibility of motorized "scooter carts", that you could ride on, perhaps standing up, as you go from location to location?
- pilom 13y ago15 miles is a hike, but it wont tear you up after you do it for a weeek or 2. It only feels like a lot because many office drones expecation of amount of walking a day is anchored at "sit at desk all day." Appalachian Trail hikers start at 8-10 miles a day and work up to around 15 miles a day on a dirt trail over mountains while carrying 1/3 of their body weight! And they do that every single day. 15 miles a day is no big deal, to say nothing of 7 miles a day.
- axgop 13y agoWe use powered pallet jacks (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pallet_jack http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pallet_jack). The catch with those is that a lot of items are close enough together in the warehouse that most guys end up walking alongside their jack. Still, it beats manually dragging two pallets' worth of product on what could end up being a two mile trip per order.
- EliRivers 13y agowe pay well over minimum wage because of the nature of the work The article indicates the basic wage is one penny over minimum wage.
- nkurz 13y agoYou are correct about the article, but the OP's "we" refers the distribution center that he works for, which is not run by Amazon. Presumably it is located somewhere there are other job possibilities, and thus has to pay a premium to attract workers.
- EliRivers 13y agoI'd prefer to think that it's not driven by the dehumanising worship of the great God market, but instead by not wanting to treat humans as fungible cattle. Unlikely, but if we don't dream we won't rise.