The company announced its new program on May 17. According to an Amazon press release, WorkingWell is a combination of “physical and mental activity, wellness exercise and healthy eating support” and is designed to “help employees recharge and recharge.”
One of the building blocks of WorkingWell is an initiative that Amazon calls AmaZen. It aims to “guide employees through mindfulness practice in individual interactive kiosks located in buildings [компании]”These kiosks are called ZenBooth.
On May 26, a video appeared on Amazon’s Twitter account with a ZenBooth meditation kiosk (now deleted), which looks like a small booth. Inside the kiosk is a small ventilated room with houseplants, mental health brochures and posters, and a computer to run guided meditation videos.
“With AmaZen, I wanted to create a quiet space so people can focus on their mental and emotional well-being. ZenBooth is an interactive kiosk where you can navigate the library of mental health and mindful practices to recharge your internal battery,” says corporate video kiosk creator Leila Brown.
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Video: Namiki / YouTube
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However, the media and netizens criticized ZenBooth. In particular, the Vice edition writes that it looks like a coffin. The publication also said that it is not entirely clear how overworked company employees should find time to visit the kiosk. Amazon itself did not answer Vice’s question about this.
The view of the kiosk also caused a wave of criticism among users of social networks.
“No restroom breaks, but go to this closet, you feel better. Amazon introduces AmaZen for overworked warehouse workers.” writes Matthew Feliciano.
No bathroom breaks but go sit in this closet, you’ll feel better. Amazon Introduces ‘AmaZen’ for Its Overworked Warehouse Staff https://t.co/NmzPMydI9h
— Matthew Feliciano (@M__Feliciano) May 28, 2021
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“A box the size of a coffin is inside one of the warehouses. [Amazon]… Inside there is a small table with a single monitor, several shelves with plants, a small fan and a skylight to simulate a bright blue sky in case employees forget what it looks like. ” noted Denny Howard.
A coffin-sized box smack dab in the middle of one of its warehouses. Inside is a small desk with a single monitor, a few shelves with plants, a small fan, and a skylight meant to imitate a bright, blue sky in case employees forget what that looks like.https://t.co/MpTx2mVpEL
– Danny Howard (@dannyman) May 28, 2021
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“It seems to me that acceptable wages and working conditions are better than a mobile despair cabinet.” considers journalist Talia Levin.
“Amazon is finally giving employees what they’ve always wanted – a place to sob where everyone can hear them.” writes Matthew Galt.
“Where have I seen Amazon’s ZenBooth before?” – asks user ludicrous gibs, attaching a frame from the animated series Futurama, which depicts a suicide booth, to the post.
Last year, the independent advocacy organization Open Markets Institute published report on working conditions at Amazon, its main theses were published by the publication The Register… The report said Amazon warehouse employees must strictly adhere to established targets for parcels processed per hour. At the same time, the employees themselves do not know what their plan is. However, those who do not fulfill it are fired without explanation.
Employees are also subject to strict workplace restrictions. They are not allowed to bring any personal items into the warehouse, except for a bottle of water and an empty plastic bag for money.
During the day, employees have no more than 30 minutes for lunch and twice 15 minutes for a break. The same tracking software strictly monitors the observance of timing. Among other things, Amazon is taking a number of measures to prevent employees from joining, for example, to form trade unions. The company monitors the movement of workers and disrupts any gatherings of large numbers of people, the study said.
Due to the strict requirements for fulfilling the plan, employees work every day in a state of stress and “mild panic”. The researchers also found that the injury rate in Amazon warehouses is five times the industry average.
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