Is Amazon good or bad for society?

Among the tech industry’s elite, Amazon stands above all others as the best for society, according to a new poll. Amazon was cited by 20\% of respondents as having the “most positive impact on society” among technology companies in a new Recode/Survey Monkey poll.

Is Amazon good or bad for the economy?

Amazon has disrupted traditional retail and accelerated the demise of struggling players. Without storefronts, the company’s overhead costs are significantly lower than other retailers. That gives Amazon the edge to undercut rivals on prices and operate on a thinner profit margin.

How does Amazon treat its employees?

How Amazon treats its employees also matters because it impacts the company’s ability to retain existing employees and attract new ones. Bray’s departure from the company was a widely-publicized example of the damaging effect that worker mistreatment can have on other employees, but it’s unlikely to be the only consequence.

Why is working at Amazon so hard?

Every Amazon worker I’ve spoken to said it’s the automatically enforced pace of work, rather than the physical difficulty of the work itself, that makes the job so grueling. Any slack is perpetually being optimized out of the system, and with it any opportunity to rest or recover.

Is Amazon doing enough to keep workers safe?

(An Amazon spokesperson said the company takes worker safety seriously, has medical staff on-site, and encourages workers to report all injuries.) Backaches, knee pain, and other symptoms of constant strain are common enough for Amazon to install painkiller vending machines in its warehouses.

Why is Amazon caving to its employees?

The Journal story notes that Amazon caved on several longstanding worker demands — including raises and paid time off — after the majority of workers at some sites did not show up for their shifts.