Sweatshops-R-Us: Amazon Makes Warehouse Staff Work 7 Days, Refuses Sick Leave

[mandy]

Amazon, Britain’s most popular website for Christmas shopping, is making its staff work seven days a week and threatening them with the sack if they take time off sick...

Behind the scenes Amazon, which can expect its busiest day of the year tomorrow, is employing thousands of casual workers in Britain to fetch and package items under arduous conditions. An investigation by The Sunday Times at Amazon’s enormous warehouse in Bedfordshire has found that workers were:

– Warned that the company refuses to allow sick leave, even if the worker has a legitimate doctor’s note. Taking a day off sick, even with a note, results in a penalty point. A worker with six points faces dismissal.

– Made to work a compulsory 10½hour overnight shift at the end of a five-day week. The overnight shift, which runs from Saturday evening to 5am on Sunday, means they have to work every day of the week...

-Given only one break of 15 minutes and another of 20 minutes per eight-hour shift and told they had to get permission to go to the toilet...

full article: http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/bu...337770.ece