A BBC investigation into a UK-based Amazon warehouse has found conditions that a stress expert said could cause "mental and physical illness"
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-25034598
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-25034598
You wanted to work for Amazon?
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WheelEstate USA
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The job is defined at hiring time. Like it, take it, or walk away.
Many seasonal workers put away a lot of cash doing this.
There's always someone ready to bitch when a job has strenuous conditions of any sort.
My goodness, I broke a nail on the job, I'm going to sue.
I'm just sayn, if ya don't want to work don't take the job.
Many seasonal workers put away a lot of cash doing this.
There's always someone ready to bitch when a job has strenuous conditions of any sort.
My goodness, I broke a nail on the job, I'm going to sue.
I'm just sayn, if ya don't want to work don't take the job.
I've found jobs where I'm on my feet and moving around all day to be far less stressful than any sort of office/cubicle job. Sore feet is nothing, and once you figure out your particular job, you're fine. Can't do much for the boredom and tedium, but it seems like it pays pretty well, so that makes up for it in my book. I've definitely got my sights set on working there once i get on the road.
WheelEstate USA
Well-known member
Sure, its a hustle bustle job. Work, crash, work some more and crash. too tired to go out but one night a week and you bank some savings to travel without sweating it for a while.
Health and age and all that bull keeps me from actually working. I can't hold up to that sort of gig or I'd sign on in a flash.
I think you should give it a shot. Never know, it might be a cool adventure. It couldn't help but boost your workcamper resume on down the road and put cash in your pocket.
While lots of camp hosting is done by couples, we recently talked to a woman who spent the summer working in a large RV up north (I forget where). All she did was drive a cart and wagon around to change out trash bags in the barrels. 4 days on 4 off and about 2 hrs per day in exchange for space and hook ups.
Some jobs also offer a little pay, but most camps look for those of us with income, such as social security and offer space/utilities for easy jobs involving few hours/days.
Health and age and all that bull keeps me from actually working. I can't hold up to that sort of gig or I'd sign on in a flash.
I think you should give it a shot. Never know, it might be a cool adventure. It couldn't help but boost your workcamper resume on down the road and put cash in your pocket.
While lots of camp hosting is done by couples, we recently talked to a woman who spent the summer working in a large RV up north (I forget where). All she did was drive a cart and wagon around to change out trash bags in the barrels. 4 days on 4 off and about 2 hrs per day in exchange for space and hook ups.
Some jobs also offer a little pay, but most camps look for those of us with income, such as social security and offer space/utilities for easy jobs involving few hours/days.
One Awesome Inch
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I worked for 18 yrs at a large grocery store and hated it but it paid very well. Now i work with autistic kids and its way more stressful and challenging. Even though i make less money now, I enjoy the job and find it v rewarding. Money isnt everything.
caseyc
Well-known member
I'm curious, what does Amazon pay? I'm guessing it's pay per hour since it's seasonal or part time without benefits.
WheelEstate USA
Well-known member
caseyc said:
I heard "The River" (Amazon) pays temps between $10.50 & 11.50 hourly for 10-12 hours with 4 days (or nights) on, 3 off. They expect to take on some 70,000 workers this season.
ToysRus plans to put on 45,000 for the season, and other large chains will likely add as many, if not more to fill online orders and in stores.
I'm not sure what bennies are offered if any.
caseyc
Well-known member
Soooo, that's just a little more than minimum wage, depending on which state one is one. When I worked for a temp agency a few years ago, I was getting $20 hourly at 40 hours/week, but no benefits.
WheelEstate USA
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Workcamping doesn't pay a lot in most cases, but it is a way for travelers, especially us older ones, to earn some extra money or save by having free space and such. Jobs that pay well are not as easy to find when you have to work outside of your field, as I do for health reasons.
I think Calif pays a little better, but the cost of living is generally higher than lots of places.
I think Calif pays a little better, but the cost of living is generally higher than lots of places.
caseyc
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True, major cities in California costs more in general. Just to give you an idea, it would be hard to live on $20 an hour where I'm located. But maybe that's just me.
drivebyandy
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In Michigan to even remotely throw Toys R Us and Amazon in the same category is absurd. Two years ago I worked at TRU for the holidays and made $7.75 an hour. They kept me on after the holidays and I worked 4 hours a week until I left for something more reasonable. Three years ago I worked at Amazon and made $11.50/hr. And I had to go to Kansas for it. I still came out ahead at Amazon, even after driving there and back while towing a trailer.
Don't forget that Amazon also pays for your campsite, and depending on which one you work for, your electricity might also be paid for.
I loved my job at Amazon and I deeply respect Amazon as a company. I appreciated their quotas, standards, and procedures. I knew exactly what was expected of me and so did everyone else. Maybe I'm weird that I appreciate when a company is actually running a company.
The article is short, one-sided, and a fluff piece.
As for 'Camperforce' workers in the US? I never saw more than them being told to pick up the pace. If they didn't then oh well. They'd be talked to again next time, and that's all that would ever happen. Amazon isn't naïve, they know they're hiring an older crowd with their Camperforce and they know what they can reasonably expect.
Then again.. I was at 100% of my quota since day one. I was there to work and make money, and then leave.
Don't forget that Amazon also pays for your campsite, and depending on which one you work for, your electricity might also be paid for.
I loved my job at Amazon and I deeply respect Amazon as a company. I appreciated their quotas, standards, and procedures. I knew exactly what was expected of me and so did everyone else. Maybe I'm weird that I appreciate when a company is actually running a company.
The article is short, one-sided, and a fluff piece.
As for 'Camperforce' workers in the US? I never saw more than them being told to pick up the pace. If they didn't then oh well. They'd be talked to again next time, and that's all that would ever happen. Amazon isn't naïve, they know they're hiring an older crowd with their Camperforce and they know what they can reasonably expect.
Then again.. I was at 100% of my quota since day one. I was there to work and make money, and then leave.
Lifemagician
Well-known member
drivebyandy said:
Think that's known as a work ethic. Many seem not to know what that means.
Lifey
caseyc said:
It's just you
Mostly kidding, but I live on considerably less than $20/ hr, in coastal SoCali. It's not easy, but when I lost my $40,000/yr job, I had to take what I could get and adjust my life accordingly. Fortunately, I lost my spendthrift spouse a few months later
Lifemagician said:
Very true. We had to fire a new employee a few months back. When talked to about his sloppy work habits, he said that since he was only making $10/hr when he was worth so much more, he didn't think that he should have to work very hard.
His replacement is a kid who has never had a job before and seems to think that assigned hours are optional/ employees just show up when they feel like working. Lovely, considering that his entire job is to take care of living things
owl said:
I saw the same thing in Australia. The neighbor's son graduated high school and immediately went on the dole, without even looking for a job. I have to say that I was floored, because the minimum wage was about $15US at the time.
On topic- I certainly plan to grab a job with Amazon when I hit the road full time. I currently work in shipping/ customer service, so it likely won't be all that different. A little less money hourly, but the free rent and overtime will more than make up for it. IIRC, there is also a bonus if you work through the entire season.
Lifemagician
Well-known member
Unchained said:
It would be interesting to learn when and where? It certainly will not happen today. Strict condition go along with the dole, and when not met, the payments stop. Especially for the young. The conditions for the over 50s are less stringent, as it is much more difficult for them to find work. (Son - in his forties - who was made redundant a few months ago knows all about it.)
However, I did see and read some of what you state in the 80s and 90s. It led to my making an effort to get all my children work from the time they were in grade 6. Simply vending ice creams from a tray at sporting events, gave them the idea of how to obey orders from others, wear clothes they did not want to wear, turn up on time and that you earn more and get more tips with a smile and a good attitude than you do when you allow the work to becomes a chore. All had many part time jobs right through through school and university.
[We didn't need the money, but the children are better for the experience.]
Five competent, confident young Australians of whom we are very proud.
Lifey
@Lifey- It was Brisbane, early 2005. I was there for 3 weeks, helping a friend with the sale of her MIL's house. Plane ticket, housing and food in exchange for cleaning out and staging the house. Memories of our day trip to the Gold Coast, grilling mudbugs on the back deck, XXXX beer, the wild parrots gathering in the trees outside the local bar at dusk and those incredible meat pies from the bakery that we usually hit for lunch were a bonus
The 'young' man in question was 27 at the time, and had just started working under the table at a chips shop to supplement his 'benefits'. When I asked, he said that the dole was more than he would have made if he had gone to work after high school. I wasn't too happy with that, as I had met many folks working minimum wage jobs who resented supporting people like him.
Wish his folks had been more like you. They were nice enough people, but never taught him the value of paying your own way.
The 'young' man in question was 27 at the time, and had just started working under the table at a chips shop to supplement his 'benefits'. When I asked, he said that the dole was more than he would have made if he had gone to work after high school. I wasn't too happy with that, as I had met many folks working minimum wage jobs who resented supporting people like him.
Wish his folks had been more like you. They were nice enough people, but never taught him the value of paying your own way.
Lifemagician
Well-known member
Unchained said:
Obviously you were not in any position to do what I would have done. But I fully understand how you must have felt. Sometimes it is better to practice tough-love, and report these folk to the authorities. I do. It's my money.
Lifey
The really sad thing is that the government taking care of you lifestyle is drawing to a close in countries all over the world due to economics. When the piggy bank empties, the dole shrinks or stops. Most of these folks are going to be in dire straights without the tools to fend for themselves.
