Amazon’s cheerleaders tweet in defence of warehouse conditions
AMAZON has hired an army of online ambassadors paid to defend working conditions at the internet retail giant’s warehouses.
A series of Twitter accounts were set up this week that appear to be devoted entirely to espousing the benefits of working in one of the company’s cavernous fulfilment centres.
The move seems to be a co-ordinated attempt from Amazon to push back against claims that its warehouse workers are underpaid, work long hours and are put under such pressure to hit targets that they have no time for lavatory or drinks breaks.
The accounts appear to scan Twitter for criticism of the company’s conditions and respond directly, rarely tweeting about life outside of Amazon.
They all repeat similar messages: warehouse employees work no more than 40 hours a week, are paid well above the minimum wage and there is plenty of time to use the lavatory. “Working on my feet is an honest living and I get to fulfil customer orders, which makes them happy. Proud to work hard and have fun!” tweeted one ambassador this week. Another wrote: “I can use the restroom anytime I want! No bottle needed.”
There are about 15 accounts, all based in the US, describing themselves as “Amazon FC Ambassadors”. None of the accounts use their full names and several do not show their faces, with many displaying pictures of animals or Amazon warehouse clothing.
However, the accounts all bear the same hallmarks: Amazon’s orange and white logo at the top of their Twitter page, a description of their history at the company and a link to a website offering tours of a fulfilment centre.
The accounts have denied they are bots, but merely want to address “misinformation” about the company.
All of the accounts began tweeting on Tuesday and most have tweeted dozens of times a day since. One account confirmed that the programme was set up by Amazon, saying she had been approached by the company.
Amazon said the accounts were set up to “educate people about the actual environment” in its centres. A spokesman said: “FC ambassadors are employees who have experience working in our fulfilment centres.”