As Amazon has grown to dominate the e-commerce industry and beyond, the tech giant has come under increasing scrutiny for its labor practices, particularly around break policies for its sprawling workforce of warehouse workers and delivery drivers. With over 1.1 million employees worldwide as of 2021, how Amazon treats its workers can have ripple effects throughout the global economy.
In this in-depth article, we‘ll examine Amazon‘s break policies in detail, the controversies and criticisms that have emerged, and how the company has responded. We‘ll look at how Amazon stacks up against labor laws and other industry leaders, and hear from a range of experts on what changes are needed to ensure fair and safe working conditions. Finally, we‘ll explore what it all means for you as a consumer.
Parsing Amazon‘s Break Policy Fine Print
First, let‘s break down what Amazon‘s official break policies actually entail for different segments of its workforce:
Warehouse Workers
For the hundreds of thousands of workers staffing Amazon‘s fulfillment centers, the official policy is 15-minute paid breaks near the midpoint of each 4-hour work period and a 30-minute unpaid meal break for shifts longer than 6 hours. Employees are free to use the restroom as needed.
However, workers are also subject to Amazon‘s notorious "time off task" or ToT tracking. Using software that monitors each worker‘s time between scanning packages, Amazon flags unproductive time that lasts longer than a set number of minutes (typically 2-5 minutes per hour). Too many ToT violations can result in disciplinary action.
Delivery Drivers
Amazon‘s network of delivery drivers, who often work for third-party contracted companies, typically receive a 30-minute lunch break and additional 15-minute breaks for 10+ hour shifts. However, given demanding delivery quotas, many drivers report eating while on the go and using the restroom at gas stations or businesses along their routes, rather than taking formal breaks.
Corporate Employees
For Amazon‘s office workers, break policies are far less regimented. Most salaried corporate employees do not have set break times and are trusted to manage their own time. Bathroom breaks are not tracked and meal periods are flexible.
Complaints of Quotas Over Breaks
While Amazon‘s break policies may sound reasonable on paper, many workers argue the reality on the warehouse floor is very different. The company has faced multiple lawsuits claiming it failed to provide full meal and rest breaks required by state laws in California, Washington, and Colorado. In 2021, Amazon paid $8.2 million to settle a class action suit covering 42,000 California workers.
Even more pervasive are reports that Amazon‘s relentless focus on productivity makes workers feel unable to take full advantage of allowed breaks. A 2020 report by the Center for Investigative Reporting found Amazon‘s injury rates were nearly twice the industry average, which it attributed in part to the pressure to minimize time off task.
"When you‘re worried about ToT, you‘re not using the restroom, you‘re not getting a drink of water, you‘re not stretching, you‘re not doing the things you need to do to take care of your body," said former Amazon worker Rina Cummings in the report.
How Amazon‘s Policies Stack Up
So how do Amazon‘s break policies compare to other major employers and legal requirements? When it comes to meal and rest breaks, the U.S. has a patchwork of laws that vary by state, as federal law does not mandate them. Nine states require meal breaks and seven mandate paid rest breaks, while others have no such provisions.
Among those with laws on the books, California and Washington have some of the most stringent requirements, stipulating a 30-minute meal break for shifts over 5-6 hours and a paid 10-minute rest break for every 4 hours worked. By these measures, Amazon‘s policies are in technical compliance.
Other major retailers have similar official policies. Walmart, the nation‘s largest private employer, provides two paid 15-minute breaks and one 30-minute meal period for standard full shifts. Target and Costco also offer a 30-minute meal and additional 15-minute breaks.
However, some labor experts argue that given the strenuous physical demands of warehouse work, standard break periods may not be sufficient. "For workers who are on their feet all day, often doing repetitive motions, more frequent breaks are needed to prevent injuries and strain," said Debbie Berkowitz, a former OSHA official now with the National Employment Law Project. "Employers like Amazon need to go above and beyond the legal floor."
Amazon‘s Responses and Policy Evolution
Faced with mounting public pressure and media scrutiny, Amazon has made some adjustments to its break and time off task policies in recent years, though critics say the changes don‘t go far enough:
- In June 2021, Amazon updated its time off task policy to average a worker‘s unproductive time over a longer period, rather than strictly day-to-day. The company says this gives workers more flexibility.
- During the COVID-19 pandemic, Amazon says it provided additional breaks for handwashing and temporarily eased absenteeism and productivity quotas. Some workers disputed how consistently the policies were applied.
- Amazon has long claimed workers can use the bathroom "whenever needed," but updated its policy in 2021 to more explicitly state that doing so outside scheduled breaks would not be penalized.
- The company launched a wellness program called WorkingWell in 2021 that includes guided exercises, nutrition support and mental health resources for workers. Labor advocates argue the program fails to address root causes of strain.
"Amazon is very adept at public relations responses to criticism over its workplace practices but when you look at the actual substance of the changes, often there is little improvement," said Beth Gutelius, research director at the Center for Urban Economic Development at the University of Illinois Chicago.
The Business Case for Better Breaks
Improving break policies and overall worker treatment isn‘t just an ethical imperative for Amazon – there‘s also a strong business case. Here are a few key reasons:
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Reducing costly injuries and turnover. Amazon‘s high injury rates come with high costs, both in terms of worker‘s compensation claims and the expense of constantly replacing burned out workers. A 2021 study estimated Amazon‘s turnover rate at around 150%, far higher than industry averages. Providing more humane breaks and less stressful conditions could help reduce these costs.
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Heading off labor organizing. In 2022, Amazon workers in Staten Island voted to form the company‘s first U.S. union, a historic win fueled in large part by grievances around break policies and workplace pressures. With more organizing efforts underway, granting concessions like easier break access could undercut some of the union momentum.
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Protecting the brand. As consumers increasingly factor company values and worker treatment into purchasing decisions, Amazon risks long-term brand damage if it is seen as a bad actor. A 2021 survey by Facteus found nearly 40% of consumers said they would boycott Amazon over reports of harsh working conditions. As Amazon expands further into markets like grocery and healthcare, maintaining a positive reputation will only become more vital.
The Consumer Connection
As an Amazon customer, you might be wondering what all this means for you. Can you feel good about shopping with a company accused of nickel and diming workers on bathroom breaks? Ultimately, it‘s a personal decision but one that more consumers are grappling with.
In making your choice, consider this: Many of the over 1 million workers powering Amazon‘s speedy delivery are doing so under immense physical and mental strain, often with limited access to breaks and rest. This is in service of bringing customers ever-faster shipping on ever-cheaper goods.
By continuing to provide Amazon with your business and data, you are helping to fuel its growth and clout as an employer. With that clout comes the responsibility to treat workers humanely. When consumers stay silent about poor labor practices, corporations have little incentive to change.
On the other hand, by speaking up and voting with your wallet, you can send a powerful message that fair break policies and working conditions matter to you as a customer. Write to Amazon‘s customer service expressing your concerns. Share information on social media to educate others. Seek out alternative retailers with stronger labor standards. Collective consumer pressure can be a powerful force for change.
Breaks Are Just the Beginning
While break policies are a critical issue, they are just one piece of the larger labor puzzle at Amazon. Workers have raised alarms around everything from grueling productivity quotas to lack of air conditioning to inadequate COVID-19 safety measures. Remedying break issues alone will not create a safe and sustainable work environment.
As the Institute for Local Self-Reliance, an advocacy group that has criticized Amazon‘s market power, argues in a 2020 report: "Amazon‘s grueling work pace and its intrusive worker surveillance make a mockery of health and safety…Amazon must rescind its draconian disciplinary and termination policies, and give workers a voice in their schedules, pace of work, and working conditions."
For its part, Amazon says it is continuously investing in safety improvements and open to feedback from workers. The company‘s first-ever safety chief, Heather MacDougall, said in a 2021 interview that the company has a complex and wide-reaching workforce, but that "our focus is to make sure every one of those individuals has a consistent experience and can thrive from a safety perspective."
As labor advocates, policymakers, and Amazon‘s own workers continue to push for change, the coming years could be a major turning point in the company‘s approach to break policies and beyond. With so much at stake for workers, customers, and Amazon‘s bottom line, there is no time to waste.
