Not to try to defend Amazon, but don’t you think it could have something to do with trying to focus on supplying necessary items right now without exposing workers unnecessarily?
I am actually working at an Amazon warehouse atm. With our business closed and the extra time I noticed Amazon were advertising for jobs like crazy. I always wanted to see how Amazon warehouses work and if they are bad as the news suggests. So I applied for a temporary part time position.
There are lots of things in place for covid and they seem to be adding more each day.
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We have to keep 2mtrs apart everywhere.
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Lots of cleaning of handles, doors and tables etc in the canteen.
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Cleaning the scanner and arm computer(phone type thing)
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Only one person per table in the canteen.
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Shift times are staggered to stop everyone arriving at the same time.
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When I signed in this morning to my scanner I was asked some questions from Amazon about if the safety measures were being obeyed and that we were made and helped to keep 2mtrs apart, which I felt was good.
Lots of other things too but they are the main ones that come to mind. But certain things undermine those requirements. Like the pen used to sign in that everyone touches. Pens used for certain operations in the warehouse are also shared. We are all touching the parcels as they move through the factory too. But there is not a lot you can do about that. For example I had a surprise drug and alcohol test today and before I could enter the room I had to answer lots of question about if I had a cough or temperature or anyone in my household. When I was allowed in to the room I had to sign my life away again and you guessed it with a shared pen. I was told it had been wiped and after I used the pen the test lady picked up the pen and wiped it badly with a tissue that was already used and lying on the desk and put the tissue back on the desk for the next person…
Saying this I think Amazon are doing a good job overall considering and are strictly enforcing the protocols. I also saw an Amazon employee walking around with a laptop with the screen turned around so the webcam could see what was going on and the person at the other end of the video call was asking to see various areas and the working environment so someone higher up was checking the Warehouse was complying with the covid procedures, which was good to see also.
But to actually answer your question after waffling on. My wife would say Amazon care for people by doing this. I think less so and this is not particularly against Amazon it more against human nature 
Hence for the last 10 years I have been avoiding most people and working from home as much as possible. I think there are people in Amazon that care but from a corporate position probably not much. Talk is cheap, actions are what count and being such a wealthy and successful company cutting health care to people is a scummy thing to do. I would never make a decision like this, which is one of the many reasons I am not one of the richest men in the World. Amazon-Owned Whole Foods Slashes Health Care Benefits for Part-Time Workers
UPDATE 1: 2 Apr 2020:
- No more shared signing in pen. Someone scans us in and out from a distance now
UPDATE 2: 9 April 2020
- Lane system with barrier between lanes introduced for entry and exit from the building. (Spacing was already in place but this offers a more robust system)
- Temperature taken on arrival.
- Gloves and masks handed out on entry. Rather than just being available.
- More and more tape markings on the floor everywhere indicating proper spacing of people.
- More info for what to do if you think you have symptoms of covid-19.
All good moves. Although I am getting a bit tired of hearing “2Mtrs EVERYONE” shouted across the warehouse every 15 seconds 
UPDATE 3: 12 April 2020
- Everyone must now wear a face mask.
UPDATE 4: 12 April 2020
- @Leo wonders if I am a BOT on TWIT. 01001001001000000110000101101101001000000110111001101111011101000010000001100001001000000110001001101111011101000010000100100000001110100111000000100000010000100110010101100101011100000010000001100010011011110110111101110000
UPDATE 5: 17 April 2020
Today at my Amazon warehouse they have continued implementing and improving existing measures.
Today’s noticed improvements/changes:
- Hand soaps and wipes everywhere now. Taped to something in each persons work area. So things can be wiped down when starting your shift. Rather than random cleaning stations dotted around. Although the are still there.
- They have improved the entry and exit from the building as we are now required to use different entry and exits from the building, where before we used the same door for entry and exit.
- The reception now has clear perspex sheets to protect reception staff.
- There is what I presume to be a thermal camera you have to stand in front of When you enter the building. Then the camera operator says you can come in.
- Even more tape on the floor everywhere and traffic cones further defining zones and distancing spaces.
- Masks, as I mentioned before are now compulsory. But they have added/made clear that if you are found without your mask on at any point you will be removed from the site.
- The last week I have had increasing emails and questionnaires about the measures and checking everyone is satisfied about the measures being taken and if they have anything to that needs reporting/not happy with/attention.
In my observations the supervisors are enforcing the rules and making/reminding people to comply. But the supervisors and operatives have their work cut out as it is not easy to run a warehouse in this way. It is not the natural way of being around other people either.
Personally though I wonder how effective these or any realistic measures will be . I think about the Myth Busters episode where Adam Savage simulates having a cold at a dinner party with a pipe dripping UV liquid slowly from his nose. Basically simulating a runny nose. The guests at the dinner party did not know why they were really there. At the end of the night they got the guest all together and shone a UV light over them and they were covered in the UV liquid from Adams nose… The table, glasses, plates and chairs etc were all covered too.
N.B. These are the main things I notice in the areas I am active and is not an exhaustive list of measures taken across the site(s). These are just my own personal observations/interpretations. 
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How are you feeling these days brother??
Fascinating post @rah thanks for sharing that info. I hope you stay healthy and get to return to your real job soon!
Hang in there!
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Might relieve the load on the postal/courier service too.
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Bugger. 2 dogs and now 2 cats
Time to throw everything at the wall and see what sticks
No surprise really.
Great post. In your case, I’d start carrying my own pen!
I’ve always carried a pen with me, when I go somehwere, along with a block. These days, sharing things like pens makes taking my own pen with me seem even more important.
Respect to you and all the others keeping our civilization going by providing us with the necessaties. The emergency and medical services get (rightly) applauded, but all too often the shop workers and those working in the supply logistics are just taken for granted.
Hut ab! As we say in Germany (tip our hats).
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I was a germ-a-phobe before this started. So, I don’t share pens. I always use my own. Yes, he should.
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Germany are flying in intensive care COVID-19 cases from other European countries. They have agreed to 123 cases this week.
They accepted some from Italy last week and a French military flying-MAS*H unit landed in Frankfurt yesterday evening, bringing in a number of French citizens in need of intensive care and respirators.
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Just and update on the Amazon warehouse shared pen issue. Today in my warehouse Amazon were using a scanner to scan you in and out from a distance. So no more shared pen, a nice improvement.
Plus I have my own pen for in warehouse duties too
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Good news!!!..
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Awesome!!!
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What I find really great is the number of landlords here that are either letting small businesses or families either not pay the rent for this month or are cutting the rent as much as they can.
Just seen a documentary, where a driving school was worrying where it is going to find the money to carry on, until they can start giving lessons again and their landlord said they will cut the rent by 55% for the next 4 months.
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Great to hear!!!
With new recommendation for US residents to wear material face masks, here is link to an interesting article on sterilising P95 masks from one of the original researchers involved in their design.
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Just to relieve the stress. Nature is taking over where people are in lockdown.
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Yes, that was on the news earlier this week, Monday or Tuesday, I think. The German news reported it alongside the recovery of Princ Charles, the Prince of Wales. They said something along the lines of The Prince of Wales was seen in public again for the first time since he contracted corona, and he wasn’t the only Welsh visitor out and about today and switched to the marauding goats eating hedges. 
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1 more day to go. Tomorrow is the 14th day since I was around my sick co-worker. Woohoo
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Have you had your results back yet? Over here, you have to wait for the all-clear from your test, before you can come out of quarantine. It is only if you are at the 3rd or more stage removed that you don’t get a test.
For example, a my wife’s colleague’s girlfriend’s mother was infected. The daughter was quarantined and the colleague had to self-quarantine until the results of his girlfriend’s test came in - she was negative, so he was allowed back out.
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