Thanks for the link but I didn’t read into it what some others might have - probably because I’m not female and not sensitized to it. I didn’t think it was a big deal but since it clearly bothers some people due to the gender portrayal they should consider using a different ad agency that’s either more aware of this or that conducts some tests before going live with the ad.</p>
<p>The trouble with Costco or other stores is their limited selection of merchandise and that’s a big advantage for Amazon since it can be almost a ‘one stop shop’ to purchase almost anything and not just from Amazon but also from the hundreds or thousands of merchants who sell through Amazon.</p>
<p>If there’s truly a serious issue at Amazon, and I don’t put that much credilibility in a single article like this, then they should certainly improve themselves.</p>
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<p>I’ve worked in a warehouse with no a/c located in a desert area before and it definitely got hot in the summer. I didn’t think it was a big deal though and somehow managed and no one ever passed out but maybe because they were used to the heat conditions and drank water, etc. appropriately. I can see that it could be more difficult in an area with intermittent heat where people aren’t used ot the conditions. Working in the non a/c warehouse was way better than when I did exterior painting in the same area and there are many people who work in hot conditions routinely including most construction workers. If I didn’t like it well enough I would have simply quit and gotten a different job. </p>
<p>Regardless, I’d like to see how the story ends on this one and see if it’s a real problem, which if the article is truthful it is, and if it’s endemic or just at a couple of their regional locations. Also important is how the company reacts to it.</p>
<p>honestly, I don’t really care what the temperature in the warehouse is as long as my packages come on time with the right stuff in them. I mean, that is what I pay Amazon to do, and they do it pretty damn well.</p>
<p>soccerguy, All I can say is wow.Are you joking? Thank goodness my sons are UVa and VT guys . I think Wm & Mary grads would be appalled by your statement.</p>
<p>The Breiningsville plant is always advertising in our local paper, and even have posters up in some of the local newspapers which means there is a constant turnover of employees. We are a county away, and about 40 miles, which would indicate that the locals know better than to work there. One of my parishoners started working there on Monday and I am eager to hear of his experiences if he makes it to church Sunday.</p>
<p>Normally, I don’t hear or care all that much about working conditions, but when there are exposes like this one, it is pretty appalling. I don’t need all that many items and often can find what I like/need at Costco. I feel very fortunate about that, since the employees there seem VERY happy and the prices are good. I do recognize that there are limitations on what they offer but at least that store works well for me.</p>
<p>sevmom - how many products do you buy from China? What do you think the conditions are like that those workers see everyday?</p>
<p>if your UVa and VT sons would rather pay more for the same product, that is their choice. That is not my choice. I don’t think many W&M grads would be upset that I want to get the most out of my money.</p>
<p>No, sometimes there really aren’t. Unless unmitigated greed counts as a valid “side.”</p>
<p>If management wants to avoid unionization, the smartest thing it can do it treat its employees with decency. But when employers treat their workers like this, they shouldn’t be surprised when employees want to organize (and regulators want to investigate). Shame on you, Amazon! You deserve whatever bad things you get from either direction.</p>
<p>soccerguy, I was not referring to how you buy your products. I was referring to your statemement that " I don’t really care what the temperature in the warehouse is." Very sad.</p>
<p><a href=“Re%20-%20Two%20sides%20to%20every%20story”>quote</a> No, sometimes there really aren’t. Unless unmitigated greed counts as a valid “side.”
[/quote]
There are two sides to this story and one needs to be careful to not put too much in one single article that’s representing only one side of a story and not use it as a basis to automatically find one side or the other guilty of every point the author makes. </p>
<p>Here’s purportedly at least some of the ‘other side of the story’ - </p>
<p>Honestly, what do people think the working conditions are in any location in Asia. Does it make you feel better to buy things from there because it is so far away or because it is not an OSHA violation? </p>
<p>If the conditions at Amazon or any other US company are outside safety and health regulations, then ultimately there will be changes that bring them into line. It is too big a target… If the conditions are comparable to those at other US companies, and this is just how warehouses are, then maybe they should only operate at night when temperatures are cooler… etc… I have lived on the equator for 19 years. People play tennis, do construction work and run marathons in 90+ degree weather… </p>
<p>As for me, loyal to Amazon who have improved the quality of my life and been the most consistent of any company I have ordered from- comparable to the likes of LLBean and Nordstrom for service. I could care less about a silly Kindle ad. I didn’t buy the Kindle because of an ad, and won’t stop using it because of an ad.</p>
<p>I think this is a key point that s/b considered -
Couple the fact that only 1 out 100 had this level of a heat related issue with what was apparently an unusual heat wave condition and I don’t think it would be terribly unexpected. Out of 1600 employees there are likely to be some who are out of shape and really not up to the task, who failed to hydrate themselves as they should have, or have some other illness that this pushed them over the edge. </p>
<p>We see the same thing all the time when there are heat waves or people not used to heat conditions get overheated. </p>
<p>I don’t know the details of this issue but neither does the newspaper author or anyone else on this thread hence the ‘2 sides to the story’ and reason why people shouldn’t go ahead and try and convict and find guilty on the basis on one article that only represents one side.</p>
<p>Any warehouse operation that has 1600 people also will experience a fair number of turnover employees since it’s a low-skill job that anyone with the physical capabilities can do with almost no training (I’ve worked in warehouses before). It’s also not unreasonable for the company to require a certain amount of productivity out of the employee - just as is usually done at almost any job but this is a physical job so the productivity will be measured in physical terms, i.e. processing x amount of items in y amount of time.</p>
<p>I agree that conditions for workers should be reasonable in the context of the type of job it is and they should improve areas that surface that need improvement but at the end of the day, contrary to the headlines for this issue, no one is ‘forced’ to work in the conditions and they can leave if they find the conditions unsuited for them.</p>
<p>Just curious about whether Amazon plans to air the OTHER SIDE OF THE STORY. Sometimes publications invite/allow this. It would be interesting.</p>
<p>I find it interesting that there is the very high turnover that has been mentioned as well as escalating productivity requirements. Personally, I doubt I could last a day or more in such an environment. I don’t have the physical stamina for many physical jobs. I still prefer employers who have stable (happy) work forces (like Costco) rather than frequent high volume turnover. Makes me feel they’re doing things right!</p>
If you have some interest I might suggest reading “Fast Food Nation” which includes an section on worker safety and the affect of removing government regulation and relying on companies self reporting issues in the work place.</p>
<p>I assume our posts crossed but the quote in my post above yours is apparently at least part of ‘the other side of the story’ from an Amazon spokesperson.</p>
<p>From the article Toblin linked where a/c is being added -
A lot of warehouses need to routinely keep the large overhead doors open for loading/unloading and this makes a/c not as efficient. This is why even in desert areas some warehouses don’t have a/c.</p>
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This is logical and common practice for warehouse operations that can see seasonal demand. The US Post Office, UPS, department stores, and others hire seasonal temp workers all the time as well. </p>
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You can perceive what it’s like at your local Costco retail location but how do you know what it’s like at Costco depot locations that (I think) are more of a warehouse type of location? Most people don’t even know of or think of these depot and distribution centers large retail businesses have that are often giant warehouses tucked away in an industrial section of town or are sometimes even out in the seemingly middle of nowhere. </p>
<p>Hopefully the working conditions at Costco depots are decent because I shop at Costco as well.</p>
I read that and it was eye-opening but appetite killing at the same time. For those who haven’t read it - it’s a quick and interesting read and may help you lose weight if you’re currently a frequenter of the big fast-food places. ;)</p>
<p>All I can say is what I see in the Costco stores I frequent. They have a very stable workforce. One of the guys I talk to often started there after retiring from the military & plans to retire in February or so after 20 years there. There are others who have been there for many years as well. It seems a highly desirable place to work in our community & others where I’ve engaged workers in speaking to me. I don’t know anything about other Costcos that I have never been to or anything “behind the scenes.”</p>
<p>Costco also appears to promote its workers and the workers I’ve ever spoken with all seem pretty happy there.</p>