Amazon workers face 'increased risk of mental illness' - GoFuckYourself.com

wehateporn · 11-25-2013, 08:21 AM

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

"A BBC investigation into a UK-based Amazon warehouse has found conditions that a stress expert said could cause "mental and physical illness".

Prof Michael Marmot was shown secret filming of night shifts involving up to 11 miles of walking - where an undercover worker was expected to collect orders every 33 seconds.

It comes as the company employs 15,000 extra staff to cater for Christmas.

Amazon said the safety of its workers was its "number one priority."

Undercover reporter Adam Littler, 23, got an agency job at Amazon's Swansea warehouse. He took a hidden camera inside for BBC Panorama to record what happened on his shifts.

He was employed as a "picker", collecting orders from 800,000 sq ft of storage.

A handset told him what to collect and put on his trolley. It allotted him a set number of seconds to find each product and counted down. If he made a mistake the scanner beeped.

"We are machines, we are robots, we plug our scanner in, we're holding it, but we might as well be plugging it into ourselves", he said.

"We don't think for ourselves, maybe they don't trust us to think for ourselves as human beings, I don't know."

Prof Marmot, one of Britain's leading experts on stress at work, said the working conditions at the warehouse are "all the bad stuff at once".

He said: "The characteristics of this type of job, the evidence shows increased risk of mental illness and physical illness."

"There are always going to be menial jobs, but we can make them better or worse. And it seems to me the demands of efficiency at the cost of individual's health and wellbeing - it's got to be balanced."

Amazon said that official safety inspections had not raised any concerns and that an independent expert appointed by the company advised that the picking job is "similar to jobs in many other industries and does not increase the risk of mental and physical illness".

The scanner tracked Mr Littler's picking rate and sent his performance to managers. If it was too low, he was told he could face disciplinary action.

When Mr Littler worked night shifts his pay rose from the daily rate of £6.50 per hour to £8.25 per hour.

After experiencing a ten-and-a-half-hour night shift, he said: "I managed to walk or hobble nearly 11 miles, just short of 11 miles last night. I'm absolutely shattered. My feet are the thing that are bothering me the most to be honest."

Amazon said new recruits are warned some positions are physically demanding and that some workers seek these positions as they enjoy the active nature of the work. The company said productivity targets are set objectively, based on previous performance levels achieved by the workforce.

Those on the night shift work a four-day week with an hour's break per shift.

Experts have told Panorama these ten-and-a-half-hour night shifts could breach the working time regulations because of the long hours and the strenuous nature of the work.

Barrister Giles Bedloe said: "If the work involves heavy physical and, or, mental strain then that night worker should not work more than eight hours in any 24-hour period.

But Amazon said its night shift is lawful. They said they sought expert advice to ensure the shifts "comply with all relevant legal requirements".

Amazon said it had invested £1bn in the UK and created 5,000 permanent jobs.

It added that it relied on the good judgement of thousands of employees. The company said: "Together we're working hard to make sure we're better tomorrow than we are today."

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

Scott McD · 11-25-2013, 08:24 AM

They should go work in a factory in Bangladesh and see how they like work conditions there...

wehateporn · 11-25-2013, 08:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scott McD

They should go work in a factory in Bangladesh and see how they like work conditions there...

ottopottomouse · 11-25-2013, 08:35 AM

Quote:

A handset told him what to collect and put on his trolley. It allotted him a set number of seconds to find each product and counted down. If he made a mistake the scanner beeped.

"We are machines, we are robots, we plug our scanner in, we're holding it, but we might as well be plugging it into ourselves", he said.

"We don't think for ourselves, maybe they don't trust us to think for ourselves as human beings, I don't know."

If he is finding it stressful to go to a numbered bay and pick up an item then I'm surprised he remembers to breathe.

Best-In-BC · 11-25-2013, 08:47 AM

The UK government has more mental illness than anyone, fuck off.

wehateporn · 11-25-2013, 10:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Best-In-BC

The UK government has more mental illness than anyone, fuck off.

The BBC (aka UK Government) want people to buy their Christmas presents from retailers who pay taxes to them, not globalists like Amazon who avoid them. That's why we're being fed this propaganda at the end of November.

Due · 11-25-2013, 11:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wehateporn

The BBC (aka UK Government) want people to buy their Christmas presents from retailers who pay taxes to them, not globalists like Amazon who avoid them. That's why we're being fed this propaganda at the end of November.

I'm pretty sure that Amazon pay taxes on UK.
It said they created 5k jobs, that's s lot of taxes. They also collect vat.

It sounds like these people could be replaced by robots, I think they should stop complaining and be happy someone is paying them

ottopottomouse · 11-25-2013, 11:38 AM

Well that's a battle they won't win. Most people don't care if warehouse staff have to wade around up to their neck in sewage as long as something is cheap.

wehateporn · 11-25-2013, 11:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Due

I'm pretty sure that Amazon pay taxes on UK.
It said they created 5k jobs, that's s lot of taxes. They also collect vat.

Fresh questions for Amazon over pittance it pays in tax

"MPs are ready to haul Amazon back to parliament to answer new questions about its tax status in Britain after a Guardian investigation's findings suggest the online retailer is pushing the tax rulebook to its limits to minimise its tax bill.

Company filings showed Amazon's main UK company paid just £3.2m in corporation tax on sales of £320m last year. However, the Seattle-based group has told investors its 2012 UK sales were £4.2bn.

The Guardian investigation has found Amazon pushing definitions close to breaking point; and tax authorities unable, or unwilling, to prevent the imposition of aggressive tax avoidance structures.

Information collected by the Guardian details extensive UK activities that suggest HM Revenue and Customs could take a much tougher line on taxing Amazon's multibillion-pound British operations."

Continued http://www.theguardian.com/technolog...-new-questions

dyna mo · 11-25-2013, 11:46 AM

recently i was trying to wrap my head around the logistical nightmare of amazon's return system.

they easily get 10s of thousands of returns every day. and many of those they are just fulfilling for 3rd party sellers. it's got to be nerve racking working in an amazon warehouse.

i woouldn't want to do it.

420 · 11-25-2013, 11:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ottopottomouse

Well that's a battle they won't win. Most people don't care if warehouse staff have to wade around up to their neck in sewage as long as something is cheap.

Yeah, but I'm refusing delivery if it shows up smelling like shit.

over38 · 11-25-2013, 12:09 PM

I worked in a warehouse when I was younger (The old A&P grocery stores). We had the same working conditions etc. All warehouses are like that, It's called 'unskilled labor'

Brent 3dSexCash · 11-25-2013, 12:56 PM

They can quit if they don't like it.

It is just a matter of time until these types of jobs are done all by robots. Then these same people will be complaining that robots took their jobs.

People these days are just a bunch complainers and think they are owed something better.

There are probably a billion people willing to give their left nut for the ability to make 8 pounds an hour.

xNetworx · 11-25-2013, 01:05 PM

Barry-xlovecam · 11-25-2013, 01:33 PM

Moving a box from a bin to a shipment box on a conveyor line seems a doable robotic chore.

nexcom28 · 11-25-2013, 01:41 PM

When I see these threads I know it will be either wehateporn or dvtimes

Due · 11-25-2013, 06:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wehateporn

Fresh questions for Amazon over pittance it pays in tax

"MPs are ready to haul Amazon back to parliament to answer new questions about its tax status in Britain after a Guardian investigation's findings suggest the online retailer is pushing the tax rulebook to its limits to minimise its tax bill.

Company filings showed Amazon's main UK company paid just £3.2m in corporation tax on sales of £320m last year. However, the Seattle-based group has told investors its 2012 UK sales were £4.2bn.

The Guardian investigation has found Amazon pushing definitions close to breaking point; and tax authorities unable, or unwilling, to prevent the imposition of aggressive tax avoidance structures.

Information collected by the Guardian details extensive UK activities that suggest HM Revenue and Customs could take a much tougher line on taxing Amazon's multibillion-pound British operations."

Continued http://www.theguardian.com/technolog...-new-questions

How much do you think they pay in payroll taxes or those 15000 workers they have ? How many of those 15K do you think would be collecting unemployment if they weren't paid by Amazon?
Why is there no mentioning of the tax breaks they where given because they made investments in UK ?

tony286 · 11-26-2013, 05:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scott McD

They should go work in a factory in Bangladesh and see how they like work conditions there...

Yep is that where we are as a country ?That to make us look good we have to be compared to a third world shit hole lol .

11-25-2013, 08:21 AM	#1
wehateporn Promoting Debate on GFY Industry Role: Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 27,173	Amazon workers face 'increased risk of mental illness' http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-25034598 "A BBC investigation into a UK-based Amazon warehouse has found conditions that a stress expert said could cause "mental and physical illness". Prof Michael Marmot was shown secret filming of night shifts involving up to 11 miles of walking - where an undercover worker was expected to collect orders every 33 seconds. It comes as the company employs 15,000 extra staff to cater for Christmas. Amazon said the safety of its workers was its "number one priority." Undercover reporter Adam Littler, 23, got an agency job at Amazon's Swansea warehouse. He took a hidden camera inside for BBC Panorama to record what happened on his shifts. He was employed as a "picker", collecting orders from 800,000 sq ft of storage. A handset told him what to collect and put on his trolley. It allotted him a set number of seconds to find each product and counted down. If he made a mistake the scanner beeped. "We are machines, we are robots, we plug our scanner in, we're holding it, but we might as well be plugging it into ourselves", he said. "We don't think for ourselves, maybe they don't trust us to think for ourselves as human beings, I don't know." Prof Marmot, one of Britain's leading experts on stress at work, said the working conditions at the warehouse are "all the bad stuff at once". He said: "The characteristics of this type of job, the evidence shows increased risk of mental illness and physical illness." "There are always going to be menial jobs, but we can make them better or worse. And it seems to me the demands of efficiency at the cost of individual's health and wellbeing - it's got to be balanced." Amazon said that official safety inspections had not raised any concerns and that an independent expert appointed by the company advised that the picking job is "similar to jobs in many other industries and does not increase the risk of mental and physical illness". The scanner tracked Mr Littler's picking rate and sent his performance to managers. If it was too low, he was told he could face disciplinary action. When Mr Littler worked night shifts his pay rose from the daily rate of £6.50 per hour to £8.25 per hour. After experiencing a ten-and-a-half-hour night shift, he said: "I managed to walk or hobble nearly 11 miles, just short of 11 miles last night. I'm absolutely shattered. My feet are the thing that are bothering me the most to be honest." Amazon said new recruits are warned some positions are physically demanding and that some workers seek these positions as they enjoy the active nature of the work. The company said productivity targets are set objectively, based on previous performance levels achieved by the workforce. Those on the night shift work a four-day week with an hour's break per shift. Experts have told Panorama these ten-and-a-half-hour night shifts could breach the working time regulations because of the long hours and the strenuous nature of the work. Barrister Giles Bedloe said: "If the work involves heavy physical and, or, mental strain then that night worker should not work more than eight hours in any 24-hour period. But Amazon said its night shift is lawful. They said they sought expert advice to ensure the shifts "comply with all relevant legal requirements". Amazon said it had invested £1bn in the UK and created 5,000 permanent jobs. It added that it relied on the good judgement of thousands of employees. The company said: "Together we're working hard to make sure we're better tomorrow than we are today." http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-25034598 __________________ Sexy Girls Teasing

11-25-2013, 08:24 AM	#2
Scott McD Too lazy to set a custom title Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Glasgow, Scotland Posts: 67,795	They should go work in a factory in Bangladesh and see how they like work conditions there... __________________ I Buy My High Quality Traffic Here, You Should Too!

11-25-2013, 08:47 AM	#5
Best-In-BC Confirmed User Join Date: Jun 2002 Posts: 9,506	The UK government has more mental illness than anyone, fuck off. __________________ Vacares - Web Hosting, Domains, O365, Security & More Unparked domains burning a hole in your pocket? 5 Simple Ways to Make Easy $$$ from Unused Domains

11-25-2013, 11:38 AM	#8
ottopottomouse She is ugly, bad luck. Industry Role: Join Date: Jan 2010 Posts: 13,177	Well that's a battle they won't win. Most people don't care if warehouse staff have to wade around up to their neck in sewage as long as something is cheap. __________________ ↑ see post ↑ 13101

11-25-2013, 12:09 PM	#12
over38 Confirmed User Industry Role: Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: USA Posts: 460	I worked in a warehouse when I was younger (The old A&P grocery stores). We had the same working conditions etc. All warehouses are like that, It's called 'unskilled labor' __________________ Mainstream Blazing Fast SSD WordPress Hosting As Low As $4.97/month! USA Based Support !

11-25-2013, 11:46 AM	#10
dyna mo The People's Post Industry Role: Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: invisible 7-11 Posts: 64,802	recently i was trying to wrap my head around the logistical nightmare of amazon's return system. they easily get 10s of thousands of returns every day. and many of those they are just fulfilling for 3rd party sellers. it's got to be nerve racking working in an amazon warehouse. i woouldn't want to do it.

11-25-2013, 12:56 PM	#13
Brent 3dSexCash Octopus Anime Industry Role: Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Chicago Posts: 1,064	They can quit if they don't like it. It is just a matter of time until these types of jobs are done all by robots. Then these same people will be complaining that robots took their jobs. People these days are just a bunch complainers and think they are owed something better. There are probably a billion people willing to give their left nut for the ability to make 8 pounds an hour. Last edited by Brent 3dSexCash; 11-25-2013 at 12:58 PM..

11-25-2013, 01:05 PM	#14
xNetworx So Fucking What Industry Role: Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Whore Island Posts: 14,445

11-25-2013, 01:33 PM	#15
Barry-xlovecam It's 42 Industry Role: Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Global Posts: 18,083	Moving a box from a bin to a shipment box on a conveyor line seems a doable robotic chore.

11-25-2013, 01:41 PM	#16
nexcom28 So Fucking Banned Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 3,716	When I see these threads I know it will be either wehateporn or dvtimes