After virtually two weeks of claiming “No, our employees undoubtedly do NOT should pee in bottles whereas at work!”, Amazon has admitted that typically, its employees do should pee in bottles.
The corporate’s unique declare was a sassy reply to U.S. Consultant Mark Pocan on Twitter, who had tweeted criticism about Amazon calling itself “progressive” when it’s famously anti-union and amidst employees’ complaints about inadequate rest room breaks.
1/2 You don’t actually imagine the peeing in bottles factor, do you? If that had been true, no one would work for us. The reality is that we now have over 1,000,000 unimaginable workers around the globe who’re pleased with what they do, and have nice wages and well being care from day one.
— Amazon Information (@amazonnews) March 25, 2021
On April 2, Amazon published a blog post apologizing to Pocan, and referred to as its tweet reply an “own-goal,” and saying “we’re sad about it.”
The weblog publish goes on to acknowledge that the tweet was incorrect as a result of the corporate had not accounted for its driver inhabitants, who could have a tough time attending to a toilet due to rural routes or closed public restrooms on account of COVID-19.
Whereas the corporate acknowledged that inadequate rest room breaks are an issue for his or her drivers, it additionally emphasised that it is not simply Amazon drivers. Relatively, it is a “longstanding, industry-wide situation.”
Firsthand accounts from Amazon employees, nonetheless, inform a special story. “We’re pressured to get these routes accomplished earlier than evening time and having to discover a restroom would imply driving an additional 10 minutes off path to seek out one,” an unnamed Amazon worker told Vice. One other employee informed Vice that there is incentive to chop corners and be sooner, since the most efficient drivers get extra hours.
Amazon insists that employees at success facilities have ample bogs out there, and are allowed to step away from their work stations at any time. However once more, posts on social media have proven in any other case.
As for Rep. Pocan’s response to the apology, he is unimpressed. Pocan tweeted his response, asking Amazon to prioritize its employees dignity.
Sigh.
This isn’t about me, that is about your employees—who you do not deal with with sufficient respect or dignity.
Begin by acknowledging the insufficient working situations you’ve got created for ALL your employees, then repair that for everybody & lastly, allow them to unionize with out interference. https://t.co/tdIns0AR66
— Rep. Mark Pocan (@repmarkpocan) April 3, 2021
By way of acknowledgment, Amazon admitting it was mistaken and a part of the “{industry} drawback” is a step in the precise route, however the firm additionally undermined its personal admission by overtly attempting to each reduce the scope of the issue and deflect some blame. So sure, the corporate has a protracted strategy to go earlier than it could really be as progressive because it claims.