Viewing a single comment thread. View all comments

VoyBoyTA1922 t1_ixnzt1r wrote

A few years ago I worked packing items for Amazon during the Christmas season through an outsourced employer. A thing that really sucks in working for them is that your performance is recorded by automatic systems. While there is a lot of demand for products almost no one is fired, even if their performance is low. Once the season is over, the demand drastically decreases: there are just not that many objects to pack and everyone's productivity decreases as well. Then they start firing everyone because their productivity is low. For me it was fine to be fired like that. I expected it, but others were sad about it. Working with automatically-recorded metrics is super stressful because those metrics can be used as an excuse to fire people whenever Amazon wants. They could just be honest from the beginning and tell everyone we just need you for a couple of months.

125

Subziro91 t1_ixogq1t wrote

They do say that, they literally say they’re hiring for seasonal employees . Did you think seasonal means all year ? They tell you it upfront and let you know there’s a chance you may get blue badge in . But you’re just there for the holidays and nothing more , they also do this for the drivers as well.

51

LuangPrabangisinLaos t1_ixohj3c wrote

It sounds like Amazon workers get hired for the lead up to the holidays. If you get hired in October it's not unreasonable to assume you aren't a seasonal worker, and then to be dropped in January because your metrics are down keeps them from laying you off due to lack of work.

You thought you had a steady job - and if you're doing amazon you might not have many options - and then you get dumped because amazon just doesn't need you anymore.

26

killerhurtalot t1_ixp53gv wrote

Man... if you get hired in October, you're can 100% be a seasonal worker... The 1 month lead up is literally training for the massive shitshow that is the holdiays...

26

LuangPrabangisinLaos t1_ixr9whb wrote

Absolutely. But it isn't unreasonable to think some people might think they have a new job if amazon doesn't say it explicitly.

−1

VoyBoyTA1922 t1_ixojrah wrote

You are right. Some co-workers felt that could lead to a steady job and Amazon pretended they needed us for a bit longer than they actually did, just to keep the workers invested in their job.

7

dont-YOLO-ragequit t1_ixojq3j wrote

The opposite is also frequent.

New hires in November and December doing it for Xmas Gifts or hires in January-February looking to boost their revenue for a mortgage application.

They do very well then start no showing after their 3 months

−8

Stupidquestionduh t1_ixol52e wrote

I've owned 3 houses and each time they required pay stubs. Yearly income doesn't matter you have to prove when you made that income and if you still have it. The winter is a terrible time to buy a house because the market has crap homes on it.

12

Nukemind t1_ixorga1 wrote

I’ve only had one and was going to say the same. The bank absolutely scrutinized ALOT. And winter is the worst time to buy a house no doubt. I can’t imagine getting a job and three months later buying a house, you’d be laughed out. Now if it was a transfer or something like that, or just switching jobs sure. But not just starting a new job and assuming the bank would be fine with it.

7

dont-YOLO-ragequit t1_ixovmu8 wrote

I guess the 2 or 3 guys who tried it ever since the pandemic at our workplace just fell flat and moved on then.

Granted 2 of them did it for 6 months before leaving, one of them did say they were in it to boost their revenue.

0

VoyBoyTA1922 t1_ixoitsx wrote

Indeed they were hiring seasonal workers, they said so and it was not a surprise to me. What I found disingenuous was firing outsourced employees with the pretense of low productivity from the employee. There simply was not enough demand.

0

Subziro91 t1_ixojf3a wrote

That’s not amazons problem it’s the employer of that company that hired you . You can work for Amazon , but you’re not part of it . Meaning they aren’t the ones firing you , the 3rd party employer are.

4

VoyBoyTA1922 t1_ixolzhp wrote

I agree, the outsourced employer is the one firing you. And in those cases I believe both Amazon and the third-party employer, Adecco, where doing everything within the law. I just felt that Adecco was leading employees on. A legal, at least IMO, but somewhat disingenuous tactic.

1

erishun t1_ixolh3t wrote

> A few years ago I worked packing items for Amazon during the Christmas season through an outsourced employer. … Once the season is over, the demand drastically decreases: there are just not that many objects to pack and everyone's productivity decreases as well. Then they start firing everyone.

Yeah dude, that’s called seasonal work. As in, you work for the season. Amazon calls up Manpower or another temp agency to get extra people for the busy season. Then when the season is over, they end the contract. The “temp” in “temp agency” stands for “temporary”. It’s temporary work.

It’s really nothing to do with personal productivity or automated metrics. Amazon may choose to cherry pick a few all-stars to stay on full-time, but most of the seasonal workers will get terminated after the season. That’s just how it works with these “outsourced employers” (i.e. temp agencies)

9

VoyBoyTA1922 t1_ixooruv wrote

I agree with what you say. Thanks for so clearly explaining what seasonal work means. However, when the outsourced employer fires people at the end of the season, they could just say "the season is over, we do not need you anymore". Instead, they fire a lot of their temporary workers by claiming that their metrics are low. The last bit is the disingenuous part.

3