As we’re in the middle of the holiday season, this is a very busy time of year for Amazon. More and more consumers are shopping online for their holiday items to avoid traffic and other issues that often occur when going out to shop. It is very tempting to bypass the malls and bad weather and shop on your phone in your pajamas.
However, there is a downside to this. Amazon is the biggest e-retailer in the world. It is well-known for its uber efficiency. In order to be that efficient, Amazon has been known to not be the best when it comes to workplace conditions. This New York Times piece highlighted in detail some of the horrors that could occur in an Amazon warehouse. After the bad press, Amazon said that it addressed these issues and would instill new programs and rules to improve employee morale in the warehouse.
Is Amazon Doing the Same Thing in California?
Late last month, a class-action lawsuit was filed on behalf of Amazon workers in California distribution centers who said Amazon was not following California overtime pay laws and other labor laws. The plaintiff in the case is a man by the name of Romeo Palma who works in a Sacramento fulfillment center. His lawyer said the lawsuit covers all California fulfillment centers operated by Amazon, and there are thousands others who want to bring on the same complaints.
Romeo Palma alleges that he was denied a third rest break and overtime pay during the period of November 18-November 19, which is required after working more than eight hours. Palma says that workers are required to work ten hours or more and do not receive an additional break or overtime pay. He also said that workers must clock in at a specific site in the fulfillment and travel a distance to their workplace site, adding to the amount of time they are uncompensated for their work.
As Amazon literally process and ships millions of orders this time of year, it makes sense that they would do everything possible to maximize efficiency. However, they still must follow overtime laws that are mandated by the state. These laws are put in place to ensure workers aren’t being taken advantage of. It appears here, like in many other instances involving Amazon, the company may have bended the rules.