How Amazon employees work
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Washington state regulators contend Amazon didn’t do enough to protect workers at three warehouses. Amazon has denied those allegations, and says it is improving safety at its sites. Here’s what a normal day looks like for an Amazon worker, and where the pain points can be.
The warehouse employee arrives at 7 a.m. for their shift. They’ll spend the next 10 hours moving items between pallets and a conveyor belt, from shelves to carts.
They’ll be lifting, carrying and standing for most of the shift. The repetitive motions can put the employee at risk of injuries.
The computer tells the employee to take a “microbreak” at their station. This short break prompts the worker to stretch or take a deep, mindful breath. However, some employees allege this microbreak could count as “time off task.”
The employee takes their 30 minute lunch break. This could be the first time they’ve sat down since 7 a.m.
A wearable device can vibrate to alert the employee that they’re working in an awkward position.
They’re eight hours into their shift and physically tired, and they don’t have time to slow down. The employee may ignore the alert and continue working.
At the end of their 10-hour shift, the employee likely moved hundreds of items, lifting, carrying and twisting, again and again.
They’ll be back tomorrow morning at 7 a.m. to do it all again.