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| Amazon driver warned of ejection for returning with packages during a hurricane |
After a hurricane alert was reported, an Amazon delivery driver in Illinois was asked to continue delivering packages. The dispatcher said the alarm was just a warning.
According to a Bloomberg report, which included footage of the conversation, the driver was told that returning to camp was considered a refusal, resulting in no work being done tomorrow morning.
The conversation is said to have taken place on Friday evening, about an hour and a half before the hurricane hit the Amazon plant about 50 kilometers from the driver.
After asking the driver twice to continue with the delivery, he was ordered to stand for 15-20 minutes and then continue as usual.
After that, the instructions to stay in place were repeated several times. The driver said the truck didn't provide much security and said she wanted to go back to the center.
The sender's response is, if you choose to return, the choice is yours. But I can tell you that for your own safety this is not taken into account. The safest thing to do is stay where you are.
Dispatchers said drivers cannot be called back without instructions from Amazon and will lose their jobs if they return.
According to Bloomberg, the tornado ended near the highway and pushed the car into the air, even though the driver involved in the text message was safe.
Amazon has pledged to investigate the incident
Amazon told Bloomberg that the dispatcher should immediately ask the driver to apply for asylum if he reports the driver hearing the siren. She said the dispatcher should not threaten the driver with this job in any way. The company said it was investigating the incident.
The Amazon factory is not a safe haven because a warehouse collapsed in a storm, killing 6 workers. Bloomberg reported that the camp was not doing any exercises to make sure people were prepared for the emergency.
The US Occupational Health and Safety Agency has announced that it will investigate the camp accident. Experts say Amazon's inaction is linked to its pursuit of customer satisfaction at all costs. Furthermore, there is no legal requirement for companies to evict their employees from their homes.
An Amazon shareholder cited the incident and proposed a shareholder resolution calling for an independent review of the company's operations.
They are owned by Amazon drivers who are not usually direct Amazon employees. Instead, they work for a company that has signed a contract with the e-commerce giant, and has a track record of hitting the stakes.
Earlier this year, it was reported that drivers will have to close apps that are used to ensure the safe driving of delivery drivers.