People are making Amazon drivers dance for surveillance cameras and posting the footage...

[midian182]

WTF?! It seems that the suffering Amazon delivery drivers must endure doesn’t all come from the job itself. A new report highlights how customers are asking some of them to dance in front of surveillance cameras, and the footage is then posted on TikTok.

Motherboard reports that the TikTok users are leaving notes on their door or using the Amazon app to ask drivers to perform dances for their cameras. Clips are then posted on the social media site. It doesn’t appear that any of the drivers gave their consent for the videos to be posted online.

@its.just.leah Maybe he was singing this song in his head…it matches pretty good. Tag him if you know him #ringcam #amazondriver ♬ original sound - ❤💙CiiNnY WaLkEr💙❤

One driver in Wisconsin told the publication that a customer used the Amazon app to request that they do the chicken dance. The employee ignored the request on that occasion.

While some of the videos seem to show the drivers enjoying their performances, and plenty will likely refuse the requests, it’s concerning to wonder how many are dancing only to meet the customers' demands and avoid potential consequences, such as negative feedback. There's also the question of TikTokers increasing their popularity at someone else's expense.

@oliviamoyes I love Amazon Drivers! #fyp #trending #viral #foryoupage ♬ SexyBack (feat. Timbaland) - Justin Timberlake

“Technically if the delivery associate doesn’t follow the instructions they can get dinged on their metrics for not doing so,” a delivery company owner from the Midwest told Motherboard.

A different driver was clear about how they felt: “I’ve only seen these requests in the app. If they said it in person, I would probably smack the shit out of them.”

@haduken559 I said bust a dance move for the camera and he did it! Lol thank you amazon driver guy! You’re awesome!!! #AmazonPrime #Fyp #Flossin #ForYou ♬ Hello - OMFG

Most of us wouldn’t want to be made to dance, have it filmed, and put on TikTok as part of our job. But the sad truth is that Amazon drivers have more things to worry about. If it’s not the huge pressure from making deliveries within a schedule so tight that they don’t have time for bathroom breaks, hence the (alleged) practice of urinating in bottles, it's AI surveillance cameras in their vans and unrepaired damage to vehicles. According to one upstate New York driver, “There’s way more shit that’s a problem than that stuff. My sideview mirror has been broken for the past six months. On the highway, I don’t have a passenger mirror.”

Permalink to story.

https://www.techspot.com/news/93264-new-tiktok-trend-making-amazon-delivery-drivers-dance.html

 

[Dimitriid]

It seems that the suffering Amazon delivery drivers must endure doesn’t all come from the job itself.

Wouldn't go as far: we already have heard from some delivery drivers and they have said that if they see those signs and do dance it's because they're afraid of a negative delivery review which Amazon absolutely does care about and could actually mess up with their job and bottom line.

By adhering to their "customer worship" policy the implication is that the extremely few employees that have customer-facing jobs (Mostly just drivers and call center employees handling complains) are basically just a few bad ratings away from losing their jobs because no matter how blatantly abusive and denigrating a customer gets, Amazon doesn't care about their employees: they're disposable and significantly worth less than a customer as a matter of policy.

The only way we can avoid this is by exposing Amazon union busting tactics and letting all Amazon employees form a strong union that takes control of their future away from a damned billionaire that is ok with not only the relentless exploitation of his employees but now also their dehumanization.

 

[Kinemon]

The only way we can avoid this is by exposing Amazon union busting tactics and letting all Amazon employees form a strong union that takes control of their future away from a damned billionaire that is ok with not only the relentless exploitation of his employees but now also their dehumanization.

That has been made intentionally difficult by Amazon as the drivers don't actually work for Amazon. They work for DSP's. Delivery service partners. Tens of thousands of independent businesses. Even if 1 DSP unionized Amazon would just stop using them.

 

[SG736F6]

I feel like social media keeps making our world dumber and dumber. Cameras are like *******s now, everybody has one!

 

[Dimitriid]

That has been made intentionally difficult by Amazon as the drivers don't actually work for Amazon. They work for DSP's. Delivery service partners. Tens of thousands of independent businesses. Even if 1 DSP unionized Amazon would just stop using them.

It is more difficult yes, but not impossible to counteract: Legislation could be passed saying a company is not allowed to subcontract any part of their core business and, as a company that pretty much functions on the promise of delivering goods to people's homes then under that legislation Amazon would be legally barred from continuing using contractors to deliver their packages.

Some countries have already started rolling out these kind of laws to avoid having companies rely on "independent contractors" to circumvent employee rights and shield themselves from litigation when it comes to unfair and flatout illegal employer practices.

Not saying that the US would allow this to happen in a thousand years, I'm just saying that these kind of business practices are not set in stone and they're not as inevitable as people assume: In fact such practices exist unchallenged because of the decades of anti-union action that results in outsourcing, subcontracting, "gig" economy type employment like uber, etc.

 

[captaincranky]

Wouldn't go as far: we already have heard from some delivery drivers and they have said that if they see those signs and do dance it's because they're afraid of a negative delivery review which Amazon absolutely does care about and could actually mess up with their job and bottom line.

There is a legal issue involved. Technically you have to secure a model release from any individual whose image you intend to display publicly, except for public figures, in a news worthy context

Not that cellphones and ring cameras haven't reduced legality in photography to pretty much a wild west status..

 

[mrSister]

Everybody balming Amazon but what about the retards asking for the drivers to dance? I mean, wtf is that?

Retarded is what it is. The *****s asking for the driver to dance should get a life of their own. And those who then upload this nonsense to social networks should then be prosecuted.

 

[psycros]

I don't get it. If a customer actually puts these kinds of absurd requests on their orders then Amazon knows it, and they should treat it as the BS that it is. No respectable company would expect its employees to go along with this nonsense, and most big outfits look for patterns of abuse by customers.

 

[Prosercunus]

I feel like social media keeps making our world dumber and dumber. Cameras are like *******s now, everybody has one!

It definitely amplifies the most narcissistic and manipulative of our species.

 

[Uncle Al]

Negative replies do NO good. I have an Amazon driver that refuses to leave packages at the back door, but only leaves them at a side door that won't open. I've given him negative ratings, call and complained, but to date (over a dozen deliveries) it has done NO good at all. Let's face it, Amazon is nothing more than a bunch of hot air money grabbing machine and nothing more .....

 

[Dimitriid]

Negative replies do NO good. I have an Amazon driver that refuses to leave packages at the back door, but only leaves them at a side door that won't open. I've given him negative ratings, call and complained, but to date (over a dozen deliveries) it has done NO good at all. Let's face it, Amazon is nothing more than a bunch of hot air money grabbing machine and nothing more .....

"I have a sample of exactly 1 or 2 drivers that deliver to my location, that means I know better than the actual employees perspective that know policy and how it affects literally thousands of drivers because of my 0.01% of my negative experience reflects that!"

 

[Ludak021]

Wouldn't go as far: we already have heard from some delivery drivers and they have said that if they see those signs and do dance it's because they're afraid of a negative delivery review which Amazon absolutely does care about and could actually mess up with their job and bottom line.

By adhering to their "customer worship" policy the implication is that the extremely few employees that have customer-facing jobs (Mostly just drivers and call center employees handling complains) are basically just a few bad ratings away from losing their jobs because no matter how blatantly abusive and denigrating a customer gets, Amazon doesn't care about their employees: they're disposable and significantly worth less than a customer as a matter of policy.

The only way we can avoid this is by exposing Amazon union busting tactics and letting all Amazon employees form a strong union that takes control of their future away from a damned billionaire that is ok with not only the relentless exploitation of his employees but now also their dehumanization.

So, instead of quitting the job, you suggest they should unionize and force their ways (or forcefully remove the ones they don't like in the company they can quit from) onto to the company?! Sounds like a great idea.
How about this one: if none likes it, why don't they just all quit?! They can leave their reasons for quitting in their resignation letters and let Amazon know that it's all good, but that they can't do business (yet!) without delivery personnel? After all, Amazon isn't doing anything illegal and workers can quit.
Unionizing is a d**k move imho...

edit: I'd quit if I had to choose between dancing for morons or keeping some dignity.

 

[Dimitriid]

So, instead of quitting the job, you suggest they should unionize and force their ways (or forcefully remove the ones they don't like in the company they can quit from) onto to the company?!

The fact that you think it's a ridiculous proposition means that either you don't think workers should have rights (Even if you think that, it's usually not a popular position) Or that you are basically convinced that there is no alternative to capitalist exploitation as you've (And millions of others don't get me wrong) have internalized decades of propaganda.

We call this "Capitalist Realism" and it's at the very least and interesting read if you want to at least hear what people like Mark Fisher (Author of said book) think on the subject.

 

[Ludak021]

@Dimitriid I live in a country where unionization is left over from communism. It's nothing but criminal activity and no one benefits except from the union leaders. They destroy companies and workers get fired in the end, waiting for the last paycheck, and takes years, even decades.

edit: I am well aware what unions are supposed to do. Also, United States of America is a "free market" capitalism. Amazon has a strict "no unions" policy. They had no problem not doing business in NY when pressed. They'd rather go elsewhere.
And, in EU, you can bet no one dances for the monkey.

 

[Dimitriid]

@Dimitriid I live in a country where unionization is left over from communism.

You mean left over from State Capitalism?

And under that light yeah, not surprised: they did a pretty thorough job of killing most Anarchists over there (If not just sent over to work until death in a gulag) in the eastern block to establish a new flavor of Capitalist hierarchy only with "People's" in front of all of the top down, authoritarian titles that worked the same.

Don't bother replying btw.

 

[Aceseven]

Thats messed up.

I dont even like to use amazon, BUT, none of the stores around me stock anything(and I live in a big city), yeah, all those walmarts and targets and whatever elses pretty much sell toiletries and food, if they actually carried other items I'd happily buy from them but they dont, so im forced to use amazon.

I bought a fold3, wanted a case, none of them had any, even the THREE bestbuys I went to who sold the friggin phone didnt have them, that makes no sense.

I needed shoes for work once, none anywhere except amazon, if the other stores stopped whining about amazon and I dont know, used all that floorspace to carry legitimate s**t, amazon wouldnt be such a rabid behemoth.

 

[mrvco]

Our 'society' is full of so many sick F**ks at so many levels. The real world is going to suck for them when this facade (inevitably) collapses upon itself.

 

[Unusual Kmc]

I hate tiktok

 

[BigRedPDX]

I mean, they get a choice on whether they want to do it or not. I would just make a delivery and ignore the request, like the guy who was asked to do the chicken dance. This whole "getting views" thing is out of hand. The internet has brought some good, but the bad also came with it... says the guy typing up a comment on an online post. I avoided TikTok for a while, and I still don't use it very much. I post more in IG but that's because I grow cannabis and it's fun to take pictures of the plants.

 

[mgwerner]

Social media is a cancer on society, and most people are just stupid.

 

[p51d007]

I'm more surprised Amazon "allows" this, given the 10-15 seconds per delivery, might delay a delivery LOL

 

[Austinturner]

There is a legal issue involved. Technically you have to secure a model release from any individual whose image you intend to display publicly, except for public figures, in a news worthy context

Not that cellphones and ring cameras haven't reduced legality in photography to pretty much a wild west status..

I’m almost certain that’s not the case in the US or Australia, unsure where you are though. A model release is required where the person’s image is used to indicate some promotion or endorsement of a product or service (and a few more reasons). But an image taken of a person in public or where they don’t have a reasonable expectation or privacy (such as on your front porch) can be shared, published, displayed etc. just don’t imply the amazon driver promotes your brand, tiktok etc.

*of course this whole thing is ridiculous and the drivers should just ignore the customer’s request and if amazon fires them claim unfair dismissal (depending on the US state law).

 

[Austinturner]

Thats messed up.

I dont even like to use amazon, BUT, none of the stores around me stock anything(and I live in a big city), yeah, all those walmarts and targets and whatever elses pretty much sell toiletries and food, if they actually carried other items I'd happily buy from them but they dont, so im forced to use amazon.

I bought a fold3, wanted a case, none of them had any, even the THREE bestbuys I went to who sold the friggin phone didnt have them, that makes no sense.

I needed shoes for work once, none anywhere except amazon, if the other stores stopped whining about amazon and I dont know, used all that floorspace to carry legitimate s**t, amazon wouldnt be such a rabid behemoth.

Don’t you have lots of online stores in the US apart from Amazon? Here in Australia I buy anything I want from a smaller more specialised online retailer, maybe twice a year I find something only Amazon has in stock.

 

[captaincranky]

. But an image taken of a person in public or where they don’t have a reasonable expectation or privacy (such as on your front porch) can be shared, published, displayed etc. just don’t imply the amazon driver promotes your brand, tiktok etc.

Perhaps, but a person uploading this crap is expecting, "compensation", if only in the form of "likes", and that's where it gets a bit murky.

Way back when I took photography in college, our instructor did remark that a singed model release is at best considered, "defense exhibit one".

Even if you're entirely correct, the whole sordid affair is a sad commentary on the amount of sociopathy and cruelty present across a broad spectrum of US society today.

 

[Austinturner]

Perhaps, but a person uploading this crap is expecting, "compensation", if only in the form of "likes", and that's where it gets a bit murky.

No its not, again I can sell or be compensated for a photo of you without a model release or consent.