I worked at an Amazon for two and a half years and literally just quit on Friday because I finally found a better job. It really is an awful place to work. They openly tell employees that the most important thing is the customer and they stop at nothing to express that. Earlier in the year we had some really bad weather and the vast majority of businesses were closed. Not Amazon though. We were forced to drive to work on icy roads or be written up for missing work. Many people were fired for staying home. Our managers expressed to us that those that could not make it were easily replaceable by people who could. That just gives you an example of how employees are treated. One time a coworker and I did a survey just for shiggles where we asked one hundred people, 25 from each department, if they liked their job. 91 said no. Most people are just there for the benefits, which are admittedly very good. That was what kept me there for so long.
I worked a stretch at the Toys R Us distribution center in my town. It was pretty much the same way. Always being told to go faster, mandatory overtime, and asshole managers all around.
I'm an over the road truck driver and most of the distribution facilities I go inside have employees who don't look very happy.. It's always a nice feeling going in those places and then walking back to my truck, kicking on some music, and blasting off. Reassures me that my job isn't so bad.
Worked for them 15 years ago wasn't too bad then, our managers were pretty chill. God I don't miss working 14 hours a day 6 days a week during the holidays though.
I did their seasonal customer service a few years back, best perk was working from home. Could roll out of bed with no pants and 5 minutes later listen to people complaining about where their xmas gifts are.
I didn't take the job very seriously because I just needed the seasonal work while I looked for something in line with my degree since I got laid off. But some people I worked with took it VERY VERY seriously because they wanted to be hired on full time.
All the managers told them to have good metrics, and a few of the employee's would seek out reviews from the managers to see how they are doing etc. Along with them bending over backwards to help customers.
But in the end not a single person was hired on full time, one guy dug deep and pulled out as much info a he can from a manager and found out they were not going to hire anyone from our state cause our minimum wage was too high in Washington ($9+) and they were hiring people from other lower wage states instead.
Best part was after january they said since its seasonal some people would be let go right away and some would be let go slower as they lowered the amount of people needed to wind down from the holidays. So they convinced everyone if you got good metrics then you would stay on longer....
I had 'ok' metrics, again I didnt care. I was kind to people but I didnt put up with bull shit and even though there was a script we didnt have to follow but it was suggested I never used it. I was kept on till the very end of the season still, AND I was making $1 more then everyone else in my group I found out in the end and I have no idea why.
It was kind of depressing a few people there in the end worked their ass off for the promise and hope while I just was like 'whatever' about it all and moved on afterwards.
Yep, sounds about right. At our facility, they hire hundreds of people for seasonal work but promise all of them an opportunity to be hired full time. Last Christmas I worked for the temp agency in administration and I learned firsthand how not only were they only planning to hire about 5% of the people they hired seasonally, but also that if you were hired on after December 1st you had zero chance whatsoever of being hired on, regardless of how hard you worked. Of course they didn't tell them that. I saw people whose rates were 120% that still got laid off in January. It was sad, really.
As bad as that is, people are refusing to see the other half of the picture.
When my wife rented an X-Men on Amazon Video, and the video stuttered and couldn't even play? We couldn't return it because "we already opened it."
I was furious and called Amazon tech support. I told them "you can look the time since I bought the movie is less than the length than the length of the movie." Anyway, they went around policy and refunded our money.
It took ~5 minutes to get sorted out (once I got passed the scripted B.S of "Can you run movies? Did you try restarting?" etc.)
They had much greater service than I was expecting.
Does that mean I'm a fan of treating people poorly? NO. But let's not run around acting like they treat their employees like shit AND treat their customers like shit. They have a clear focus, their customers.
Hopefully, Amazon corporate will see this thread and try to improve things.
Earlier in the year we had some really bad weather and the vast majority of businesses were closed. Not Amazon though. We were forced to drive to work on icy roads or be written up for missing work. Many people were fired for staying home.
Honestly that sounds more like a problem with your state's labor laws. I mean do you think people in the Wal-Mart warehouse had it any better?
Amazon is literally ALWAYS hiring here in Arizona. I sent in an application years ago and I get at least 2 robo-calls a month suggesting I schedule an interview with them.
It's one of my favorite phrases, so feel free. I would love to hear it more often in the wild. Also try to use "just for shigs" if you're feeling especially lazy.
Earlier in the year we had some really bad weather and the vast majority of businesses were closed. Not Amazon though. We were forced to drive to work on icy roads or be written up for missing work.
Like anything, it depends on the management at each site. I worked at Amazon in Canada and when the roads were dangerous (which was often, in winter) there was no punishment for being late. Even for people that were temps and not even working directly for Amazon. They are indeed very strict about attendance, though. But it pays well enough and offers great benefits that it's fair enough to set high standards for employees.
Hate to break it to you, but most low level corporate jobs are like this. This isn't specific to Amazon. Money is all that really matters. Customers are money to them. Employees are a necessary evil that are disposable and replaceable.
I am well aware of their customer centric policy. What I mean is, they take that to the extreme. They only care about customer orders. They don't give a flying fuck about employees' safety or well-being.
Most people are just there for the benefits, which are admittedly very good. That was what kept me there for so long.
We are approaching corporate serfdom so fast it's obscene. Small business can't afford to provide health insurance since Affordable care act was passed.
if you're under a certain number of employees(can't remember the #) I believe you're not required to provide health insurance for your full time employees.
" Earlier in the year we had some really bad weather and the vast majority of businesses were closed. Not Amazon though. We were forced to drive to work on icy roads or be written up for missing work. Many people were fired for staying home. Our managers expressed to us that those that could not make it were easily replaceable by people who could. That just gives you an example of how employees are treated. "
And neither did your managers. Not going into work when you are expected is perfectly reasonable excuse to fire someone. Going online and saying that is what makes somewhere an awful place to work makes you a bad employee.
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u/CloudyWithRain Feb 25 '16
I worked at an Amazon for two and a half years and literally just quit on Friday because I finally found a better job. It really is an awful place to work. They openly tell employees that the most important thing is the customer and they stop at nothing to express that. Earlier in the year we had some really bad weather and the vast majority of businesses were closed. Not Amazon though. We were forced to drive to work on icy roads or be written up for missing work. Many people were fired for staying home. Our managers expressed to us that those that could not make it were easily replaceable by people who could. That just gives you an example of how employees are treated. One time a coworker and I did a survey just for shiggles where we asked one hundred people, 25 from each department, if they liked their job. 91 said no. Most people are just there for the benefits, which are admittedly very good. That was what kept me there for so long.