The Amazon Case Signals a Tougher Stance on Gig Economy Firms
55 years ago

The Amazon Case Signals a Tougher Stance on Gig Economy Firms

Wired  

The Federal Trade Commission said Tuesday that Amazon had agreed to repay drivers for its Flex delivery service almost $62 million that consumers had intended as tips but that Amazon retained for several years. The FTC called Amazon’s tipping practices “deceptive.” “We have a long history of bringing cases against bogus business opportunities and phony income claims. The move is “unmistakably an indication of the agency’s commitment to devoting additional attention and enforcement resources to monitoring the behavior of gig employers and to punish misrepresentation and fraud,” says William Kovacic, a former chair of the FTC and now a professor at George Washington University Law School. Meanwhile, according to the FTC, internal Amazon emails show employees describing the situation as “a huge PR risk for Amazon” and “an Amazon reputation tinderbox.” In mid-2019, Amazon adjusted its tipping practices.

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History of this topic

Amazon boosts pay for subcontracted delivery drivers amid union pressure
3 months, 4 weeks ago

Amazon boosts pay for subcontracted delivery drivers amid union pressure

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Amazon is giving another pay …

Thousands of drivers file arbitration claims against Amazon for unpaid wages and other losses
6 months, 4 weeks ago

Thousands of drivers file arbitration claims against Amazon for unpaid wages and other losses

Associated Press  

NEW YORK — Thousands of delivery drivers filed legal claims against Amazon on Tuesday, alleging the company’s classification of them as independent contractors instead of employees has led to unpaid wages and other financial losses. Two law firms spearheading the action said about 15,860 Amazon Flex drivers have submitted arbitration claims with the American Arbitration Association, where 453 similar cases …

A disabled warehouse worker says he was bullied and abused. A jury ordered to Amazon to pay him $1.2 million
1 year, 1 month ago

A disabled warehouse worker says he was bullied and abused. A jury ordered to Amazon to pay him $1.2 million

LA Times  

People work in the Amazon Fulfillment Center in San Bernardino. A jury awarded the worker, Michael Kopp, $1.2 million earlier this month after finding that Amazon intentionally inflicted emotional distress on the former employee when its human resources department failed to stop the harassment. Kopp, who has Asperger’s and dyslexia, was hired as a “warehouse associate” at Amazon’s Fulfillment Center …

Corporate Amazon workers protest company’s climate impact and return-to-office mandate in walkout
1 year, 7 months ago

Corporate Amazon workers protest company’s climate impact and return-to-office mandate in walkout

Associated Press  

SEATTLE — Telling executives to “strive harder,” hundreds of corporate Amazon workers protested what they decried as the company’s lack of progress on climate goals and an inequitable return-to-office mandate during a lunchtime demonstration at its Seattle headquarters Wednesday. “Today looks like it might be the start of a new chapter in Amazon’s history, when tech workers coming out of …

Amazon launched a driver tipping promotion on the same day it got sued over tip fraud
2 years ago

Amazon launched a driver tipping promotion on the same day it got sued over tip fraud

NPR  

Amazon launched a driver tipping promotion on the same day it got sued over tip fraud Enlarge this image toggle caption Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images An Amazon promotion that allowed customers to deliver a $5 tip to their delivery driver maxed out in less than 48 hours thanks to high participation. Sponsor Message "And, in celebration …

Amazon workers stage walkouts, protests on Black Friday
2 years, 1 month ago

Amazon workers stage walkouts, protests on Black Friday

Al Jazeera  

Employees across the globe demand Amazon pay better wages and improve working conditions. Amazon workers in Leipzig, Germany on strike with their union @_verdi to #MakeAmazonPay pic.twitter.com/tFM83YA2Sc — Progressive International November 24, 2022 A spokesperson for Amazon in Germany said the company “offers great pay, benefits and development opportunities – all in an attractive working environment”. Because the costs have …

Amazon Begins Mass Layoffs After Meta, Twitter: Reports
2 years, 1 month ago

Amazon Begins Mass Layoffs After Meta, Twitter: Reports

ABP News  

After Twitter and Meta announced massive job cuts, e-commerce firm Amazon becomes the latest tech firm to start with a layoff exercise in its corporate ranks that will affect around 260 workers at present. If an employee cannot find a new role within the company, Limp said Amazon will provide a severance payment, external job placement support and what he …

Amazon workers plot wave of strikes as pay row escalates
2 years, 5 months ago

Amazon workers plot wave of strikes as pay row escalates

The Telegraph  

Amazon workers are preparing to unleash a wave of strikes at its British warehouses in coming days as a row over pay and conditions escalates. The GMB, which has members at Tilbury and elsewhere but is not involved in coordinating the action and is not recognised by Amazon, said workers are seeking a £2 per hour pay bump because of …

Amazon settles with employees allegedly fired for criticising working conditions
3 years, 3 months ago

Amazon settles with employees allegedly fired for criticising working conditions

The Hindu  

Amazon.com Inc and the U.S. National Labor Relations Board said on Wednesday the company had reached a settlement with two former employees who alleged they were fired last year for criticising the working conditions at the e-commerce giant's warehouses. Amazon had terminated the employment of Emily Cunningham and Maren Costa, who had accused the company of enforcing policies in a …

Amazon will pay $61.7 million to delivery drivers after withholding tips
3 years, 11 months ago

Amazon will pay $61.7 million to delivery drivers after withholding tips

LA Times  

Amazon will pay Flex drivers to settle a complaint by the Federal Trade Commission that the company failed to pay drivers their full tips. Amazon will pay more than $61.7 million to Flex drivers from whom it withheld the full amount of customer tips to settle a Federal Trade Commission investigation. The settlement comes nearly two years after the Los …

Amazon to hire 100,000 workers as online orders surge on coronavirus scare
4 years, 9 months ago

Amazon to hire 100,000 workers as online orders surge on coronavirus scare

Live Mint  

Amazon.com Inc on Monday said it would hire 100,000 warehouse and delivery workers in the United States to deal with a surge in online orders, as many consumers have turned to the web to meet their needs during the coronavirus outbreak. Like Amazon, U.S. supermarket chains Albertsons, Kroger and Raley's have sought new hires to staff busy sections and fulfil …

Amazon workers gear up for company's biggest ever Black Friday
5 years, 1 month ago

Amazon workers gear up for company's biggest ever Black Friday

Daily Mail  

Amazon workers at one of the company's biggest warehouses in the UK are gearing up for what is expected to be the company's 'biggest ever Black Friday'. Staff at the UK's warehouse get ready for Black Friday in their 1million square foot Fulfilment Centre Santa's Grotto: The huge warehouse, in Dunfermline, Fife, is the size of 17 football pitches Gifts …

Amazon workers stage protest as Prime Day kicks off
5 years, 5 months ago

Amazon workers stage protest as Prime Day kicks off

India TV News  

Amazon workers and activists took to the streets as the retail giant's biggest sales event of the year, Prime Day, kicked off. Also, read:Google listens to your confidential conversations: Reasons why big techs can't be trusted The biggest employee-led demonstration happened in Shakopee, Minnesota, where Amazon warehouse workers were protesting, TechCrunch reported on Monday. Protests against the retail giant are …

Amazon workers strike as ’Prime’ shopping frenzy hits
5 years, 5 months ago

Amazon workers strike as ’Prime’ shopping frenzy hits

Live Mint  

San Francisco: Amazon workers walked out of a main distribution center in Minnesota on Monday, protesting for improved working conditions during the e-commerce titan's major "Prime" shopping event. "We know Prime Day is a big day for Amazon, so we hope this strike will help executives understand how serious we are about wanting real change that will uplift the workers …

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