Amazon’s recent announcement was met with an unanticipated immediate blowback. The giant retailer shared the launch of “WorkingWell, a new comprehensive program providing employees with physical and mental activities, wellness exercises, and healthy eating support that are scientifically proven to help them recharge and reenergize.”  The program is part of an initiative by the giant online shopping empire to invest over $300 million into safety projects in 2021 for it's workers. 

The rollout didn’t get the glowing reviews they hoped for. The online virtrial was brutal. It felt that the program brought out all the pent-up anger simmering against the online shopping behemoth. This includes it's treatment of employees, and resentment of outgoing CEO Jeff Bezos, who profited handsomely during the pandemic, reaping billions more to his already staggering net worth, while millions of workers across the country suffered layoffs and a rapid decline in their financial and living standards.

Yahoo Finance wrote that the company had been sharply criticised for working conditions at their fulfillment and warehouse centers. Complaints have been made concerning tough quotas, workplace injuries, grueling 10-hour shifts and anti-union intimidation.

In the press release, the company says “About 40 percent of work-related injuries at Amazon are musculoskeletal disorders which include sprains or strains caused by repetitive motions,” and “Pilots of the WorkingWell program have reduced these injuries.”

Part of the wellness program includes AmaZen. It “guides employees through mindfulness practices” inside of interactive kiosks stationed at the worksites. Employees are encouraged to “visit AmaZen stations and watch short videos featuring easy-to-follow wellbeing activities, including guided meditations, positive affirmations, calming scenes with sounds, and more.” 

Katie Miller, an employee from an Amazon fulfillment center in Etna, OH, said, “Self-care is important, and AmaZen gives me an opportunity to take time for myself to just pause and regroup which helps me be better at work. When I take that time, I come back to work more focused, and it has a lasting effect on the rest of my day.”

Vice savagely reported “In one of its most dystopian moves yet, Amazon is introducing tiny booths where its overworked warehouse employees can momentarily escape a job so grueling, many employees say they don't feel like they have enough time to even use the bathroom.” The piece pointed out “What this looks like in reality is a coffin-sized booth in the middle of an Amazon warehouse where workers can use a computer to view "mental health and mindful practices."  

Leila Brown, a person involved with the creation of the AmaZen booth,  said in a corporate video that she wanted to “create a space that’s quiet” where “people could go and focus on their mental and emotional well-being.”

New York Magazine wrote about the wellness kiosks “A person who looks at the booth and says, “This is so Black Mirror,” (referring to the Netflix syfy series that focuses on the soul-sucking, dehumanization resulting from new technologies) really means to say that they are frightened. Something has gone terribly wrong, in a way that can feel final. It can be difficult to admit that this is simply how we live now.” 

The article added that “Amazon can crush unions and work its employees to exhaustion, and still carry on as normal,” and contends that “The ZenBooth is not proof that Amazon has become kinder, or more employee-conscious. It is evidence of something else altogether: Amazon will not listen to workers at all.”

Twitter and other social media sites shared this opinion. They claim that Amazon workers haven’t asked for meditation pods, but want time to use the bathroom when needed, job security, reasonable performance expectations, less surveillance and monitoring, clearly set out work schedules and some have called for forming a union.

Gizmodo described the zen structure as “a coffin-size box” that is “smack dab in the middle of one of its warehouses." and “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 during exhausting 10-hour “megacycle” shifts.”

Jeffrey Ku, operations employee at an Amazon fulfillment center in Aurora, CO. said, “Amazon takes our safety very seriously, and my managers have made it clear to me it’s more important than anything, even productivity and quality,” and “WorkingWell is an extension of that—it makes sure we’re taking care of our minds and bodies. It encourages us to make positive changes to how we work, and since I started watching the program’s health and safety videos, I’ve incorporated a stretching routine into my day.”

The complaints and criticisms should be heard by the company, it's executives and board of directors. Clearly, customers love the shopping experience, but the visceral reaction to this program shows that the people are uncomfortable with the manner in which workers are treated.

Left out of the conversation is an alternative view. It's fair to point out failings. There should also be at least some recognition that the company is making an attempt to improve the lives of workers. The Wellness program isn’t meant to be a cure all. The plan is one small step. They’ll try out the now controversial concept and test to see if it resonates with and helps workers cope with demanding jobs.  

This shouldn’t be construed as being an apologist for the multi billionaire CEO and near-monopoly retailer that crushes competitors. We should want more corporations to experiment with new ideas and work-styles. Some may generate interest and many won’t. It's still applaudable to at least make an attempt to better a situation. Just complaining won’t help, but action will. Any incremental step to make lives better should be supported as it will spur on other companies to also enhance the worker experience. 

We’ve already seen this happen. Remote work became a reality. The post-pandemic future will have employees commuting into an office setting only about two or three days a week if they want and others will stay at home. Although it's possible that this may not turn out to be a perfect new model, it is a big step towards trying to cultivate a higher quality of life for millions of people.