Topline
New York Attorney General Letitia James filed a lawsuit on Amazon Tuesday night alleging that the e-commerce giant failed to adequately protect its employees at the time of the pandemic and that he took revenge against employees who raised fears about the situation, contributing to the investigation into how Amazon handled employee safety at its various warehouses during the pandemic.
Amazon employees keep complaining and walking out over conditions at the company’s Staten Island … [+]
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Key facts
The complaint, filed in the New York High Court, focuses on “flawed disregard for health and safety requirements” at two Amazon facilities in the state – a warehouse in Staten Island and a delivery center in Queens. – where it was stated that the company did not clean up properly. its properties and made an inappropriate contact detection for known Covid-19 cases.
The suit also alleges that Amazon took “swift retaliatory action” to defraud employees after they complained about the conditions to Amazon’s management, government agencies, and the media.
The state filing clarifies a number of events including closing portions of the building for proper ventilation as required by the state and failing interviews with infectious staff to find a contact.
The suit also alleges that Amazon retaliated against an employee, Christian Smalls, by firing it after raising safety concerns with managers and directing a public protest in the Staten Island facility parking lot.
Forbes has reached out to Amazon for an opinion on the matter.
Quote Cruise
“Amazon’s huge profits and abstract growth rate came at the cost of living, health and safety of its frontline employees,” the state claims the suit.
Key background
Last week, Amazon sued the New York lawsuit in federal court in New York trying to stop it from bringing the allegations. The company argued that workplace safety was a federal issue and asked the court to compel James to state that she had no authority to regulate workplace safety at the time of the outbreak. or investigate allegations that the company has been suing employees who complain about their working conditions. Amazon in its suit argued that its safety measures “far exceed what is required by law,” and called an unannounced investigation by the New York City Sheriff’s Office to find that Amazon “appeared to be getting worse. higher than the standard compliance requirements. “In October, the company shared that nearly 20,000 of its employees were positive for Covid-19, but have not provided an updated number since. The e-commerce giant has also announced that it will give employees up to $ 80 in benefits – $ 40 per dose – to remove the Covid-19 vaccine from the site.
Further reading
New York Sues Amazon, says employees are unduly protected from Covid-19 (New York Times)
New York claims Amazon claims grossly disregard for health standards at stores
California lawyer proposes Amazon-focused Bill protects workers from ‘non-verbal’ quotas (Forbes)
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