Working Condition Problems in Amazon Company

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Table of Contents

Introduction
Overview of the Articles
The Identified Working Condition Problems
SWOT Analysis of the Employment Problems
Conclusion
References

Introduction

Even as companies strive to change the working conditions of their employees to enhance innovation and improve individual performance in the workplaces, the problems of poor working conditions are still on prevalence (Littler, 2013).

The recruitment processes, the empowerment plans, the promotion strategies, and other employee retention practices of some American companies have faced discrimination allegations.

Surprisingly, the majority of these companies are mega industries that appear in the Fortune 500 and other big publications due to their enhanced corporate performances (Abel, 2013).

Cases of poor working conditions in some mega transnational companies continue to attract legal, economic, social, and international discourses, which are disheartening the employees and employers (Higgins, 2014). With such allegations are in a steady increase, even as the performance of these companies enhances.

Fundamentally, this essay uses the case of Amazon Company to focus on analyzing the working condition problems highlighted in some online publications, and uses the SWOT analysis to discuss the problems.

Overview of the Articles

Several online articles and newspapers have focused on the employment issues that workers experience at Amazon. This analysis involves five recent articles that have dominated the websites and exposed the public discontentment about the Amazon Company.

The first article came from the Seattle Times Newspaper of America, and it exposed the forced labor practices of the Amazon Company, contrary to its labor policies.

The second article was the Consumer Affairs Magazine that explored the revelations of the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) concerning the dilapidated physical working conditions at Amazon.

The third article was a write-up from the AlterNet Newspaper, which exposed the mandatory security checkpoints and the underpayments imposed on the Amazon workers.

The fourth article was a BBC publication that expressed concerns about the likelihood of the Amazon workers to face mental health problems. The last article is a publication of the Westlaw Journal that described a variety of workplace problems at Amazon.

The Identified Working Condition Problems

Forced Labor Practices in the Amazon Company– The recent employment wrangles in the Amazon Company associate with the illegal issues of forced labor practices in the company (Bernton, 2014). Reports indicate that the Amazon Company has recently resorted to forced labor in its outlets that operate in the Latin America regions.

Notwithstanding its efforts in establishing an Amazon code of standards, that encompasses regulations against forced labor and child labor, the practice of forced labor has been pervasive in the operations of the Amazon Company (Bernton, 2014).

In the regions of Latin America, India, Asia, and most parts of the United States, the Amazon Company has been practicing indirect forced labor practices against its workers.

Menial workers who operate in the Amazon warehouses have complained against the poor working conditions that include excess overtime, forced overtime, strenuous jobs, and forced labor during the off-duty days (Bernton, 2014). These menial workers complain about workplace harassment, coercion, intimidation, and strenuous assignments.

Underpayment in the Amazon Company- Aside from the forced labor and poor working conditions practiced by the management of the Amazon Company in its different outlets, employees complain about low compensations and wages.

According to Hsieh (2013), the company management considers the menial workers to be illiterate individuals who do not have rights to access better working conditions. Last year, the company faced an excruciating challenge concerning the deplorable compensations offered to its workers in Germany.

Over 100,000 warehouse workers from Germany and America have complained about forced individual productivity, even as the company keeps its workers waiting for clearance at the security checkpoints without paying their daily wages (Hsieh, 2013).

In the regions of Asia, Latin America, and parts of Europe, the company paid its workers meager salaries and wages, and retained the hourly wages to cater for any allegations of damages reported at the warehouses (Hsieh, 2013). Pay cuts and demotions to reduce the wage bill are common practices that Amazon dishonestly practices.

Deplorable Workplace Conditions- Amazon has recently faced allegations concerning its behavior of exposing workers to terrible working conditions within the warehouse.

The company has left its workers to struggle within the warehouses that have poor working conditions, pitiable carton arrangements, and extreme summer temperatures (Abel, 2013).

In a recent 2013 case, investigative reports at Pennsylvania concerning the working conditions at the Amazon warehouses revealed that the company often exposes its workforce to extreme workplace problems that include exposure to extreme temperatures (Abel, 2013).

In the case of Pennsylvania, the company arranged a number of paramedics and ambulances outside its warehouses and stores in preparation for any case of a dehydrated or an injured worker. The International Labor Organization and independent analysts in China confirmed these allegations through an assessment of China during the summer.

In China, Abel reveals that the Amazon Retail Online Company exposed the Chinese warehouse workers to extreme warehouse temperatures that consequently led to health complications and deaths to some workers (2013).

Workplace Racial Discrimination- One of the most upsetting human resource practices of the Amazon Company is its illegitimate behavior of practicing racial prejudice against the immigrant workers.

According to Higgins (2014), foreign expatriates and menial laborers of the Amazon Company have reported workplace problems concerning racial discrimination that is eminent in most of its regional and global outlets.

In the year 2012, some outlets of the Amazon Company at Swansea and Wales violated the workplace regulations of the local employment tribunals that are against racial discrimination (Higgins, 2014).

In certain cases in America, foreign workers and other employees from the minority ethnicities complained about the persistent discriminations at the Amazon warehouses and offices.

Concerning the waiting hours spent during the mandatory security checks imposed on the menial warehouse workers, most of them are the racial minorities who live in America (Higgins, 2014).

In France, China, Latin America, and Spain, the Amazon workers maintained that rank promotions, compensations, empowerment, motivation, and recognition often favor the native whites.

Gender and Disability Bias- Gender and disability bias are among the major concerns related to the working condition problems at Amazon (Higgins, 2014). Significant evidence from the workers has proven the presence of workplace gender discrimination at Amazon.

In the year 2013, several former employees claimed that the Amazon Company exposed the female workers to discriminatory practices (Littler, 2013).

In the same year, some former workers of the Amazon Company attested that the company never recognized employees with disability despite the fact that some disabilities were due to the awful working conditions at the warehouses and stores.

Reports have revealed that the company unfairly dismisses the female employees because of their family related issues (Littler, 2013). Female employees who seek maternity leaves remain unfairly dismissed and on wrong allegations.

According to Higgins (2014), the disabled workers and those with minor physical health problems fail to secure job positions at the company or remain dismissed from the company on wrong allegations.

SWOT Analysis of the Employment Problems

Strengths- the strength of Amazon concerning the present allegations about the deplorable working conditions is its market dominance in the online retail stores. Amazon has a swift shipment process, a well-maintained rapport with consumers, and a reliable shipping process that makes it marketable regardless of the working condition problems.

Weaknesses– the weakness of Amazon concerning the discussed issues is that the company has lost several class lawsuits, racial lawsuits, human rights lawsuits, and employment lawsuits from its former and current workers.

Opportunities– Amazon has several opportunities to counter the current employment concerns. To its advantage, the Amazon Company still enjoys a remarkable online retail experience with its business partners, which makes it possible for the company to form some firm joint ventures to stabilize its foundation.

Threats– The most disturbing concern about the allegations is that the Amazon Company is currently facing a tough regional and overseas market competition from the companies that offer attractive online purchasing services.

Conclusion

Although the global legislations concerning the promotion of fair workplace treatment among workers are against discrimination, poor payments, poor physical working conditions, and forced labor, some companies are still against these laws.

Amazon is one of the American transnational companies that have promoted the unequal treatment of workers and excessive mistreatment of workers. International newspapers and magazines have placed the company in the public limelight concerning its insensitive employment practices against its workers.

The company has been practicing a series of malpractices against its workers. Amazon has imposed unfair promotion practices, exposed workers to deplorable physical working conditions, has compensated workers unfairly, and has practiced racial prejudice.

Using a SWOT analysis to assess the repercussions of these allegations that have gone public through the newspapers, the company may remain dominant due to its swift and reliable shipment processes, but may lose its reputation. Its experienced workforce may not help to counter the imminent competition.

References

Abel, J. (2013). BBC Reports Poor Working Conditions in Amazon Warehouses. Web.

Bernton, H. (2014). Amazon’s Overseas Labor Policy: Trust us. Web.

Higgins, D. (2014). Employment: Litigation News and Analysis. Westlaw Journal, 28(17), 1-22.

Hsieh, S. (2013). Amazon Warehouse Workers Forced to Wait at Security Checkpoints Without Getting Paid. Web.

Littler, A. (2013). Amazon Workers Face ‘Increased Risk of Mental Illness. Web.

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