Unfair Working Conditions at Amazon and Blue Origin

A 2024 report from the National Employment Law Project found Amazon warehouse workers earn 18–26% less than comparable non-Amazon warehouses in their counties—leaving them office staff near poverty levels despite physically demanding work.

Employees have reported unfair firing for medical absences and pay reductions due to payroll system errors .

Warehouse injury rates reportedly sit 30% above the industry average, with pay structures linked to demanding productivity quotas and grueling shift lengths

OSHA and state regulators have issued fines for heat stress, ergonomic risks, and lack of shade and water, including a $5.9 million fine in California for breaches of warehouse productivity laws .

Amazon has been widely criticized for "union-busting" tactics: monitoring pro-union workers, firing organizers, and aggressive anti-union campaigns en.wikipedia.org+1theguardian.com+1.

Workers who protested low COVID protections (e.g., Chris Smalls) have been terminated; the NLRB and courts found Amazon unlawfully retaliated

Ex-employees describe a culture where Bezos reportedly used insulting comments toward workers and fostered cutthroat competition among teams.

Allegations at Blue Origin, his space venture, suggest staff were discouraged from raising safety concerns due to a top-down culture.