Amazon's Speed and Surveillance Ambitions Lead to Higher Injuries, Study Says

Amazon warehouse workers are reportedly getting physical injuries and mental stress on the job due to the company's extreme target on speed and surveillance, according to a new study.

Working Conditions on Amazon

The Center for Urban Economic Development at the University of Illinois Chicago released a new report discussing the working conditions on Amazon as experienced by its workers. The study surveyed 1,484 Amazon workers within the 451 facilities in 42 states.

"We undertook this study because media reports and government agency investigations have raised serious questions about working conditions at Amazon warehouses," co-author Dr. Beth Gutelius stated. The study revealed that around 41 percent of the workers from Amazon warehouses suffered from injury while working. Meanwhile, 52 percent of them feel burned out from their workload with more than half of them having worked for more than three years.

Employees always feel a sense of pressure to work faster which causes injuries and burnout within the employees. According to the surveyed employees, they are experiencing 60 percent more workplace monitoring at Amazon compared to their previous jobs.

Amazon Work Policies Sparks Concern

Although Amazon has been preaching as the innovator in the warehousing industry, most of the employees feel differently about it. Aside from physical stress and psychosocial stress, almost 70 percent of them were forced to have unpaid time off due to exhaustion.

"The magnitude of the health toll captured in the data should also raise concerns about potential long-term effects on well-being, medical costs, future employment, and overall economic security," co-author Dr. Sanjay Pinto expressed.

Regulators, lawmakers, and rights groups have been criticizing Amazon's working policy. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration and the U.S. Attorney's Office are already investigating the conditions in several Amazon warehouses. Meanwhile, Amazon argued that the company has made progress in lowering injury rates and has adjusted the working environment.