Consumers’ around-the-clock demand for cheap, rapidly delivered products increases strain in e-commerce fulfillment centers compared with traditional warehouses. Surveys of workers at major employers found jobs at Amazon fulfillment centers to be significantly worse, with more intense and dangerous conditions, likely tied to emphasis on fast delivery. The findings raise concern that these practices could spread across the industry, but they also indicate that alternative approaches can improve job quality. E-commerce can intensify retailer pressure to deliver convenience, speed, and low prices, which erodes working conditions. Related research identifies shortcomings in collaborative robots and shows that giving e-commerce workers more voice can improve well-being.
"Consumers' around-the-clock, often impulsive demand for cheap, rapidly delivered products creates harsher working conditions in e-commerce fulfillment centers than in traditional warehouses, according to Cornell-led research that provides the first comprehensive assessment of e-commerce work in the U.S."
"Between Amazon and Walmart, the nation's two largest warehouse employers, surveys found jobs at Amazon fulfillment centers to be significantly worse - more intense and dangerous - likely driven by the e-commerce market leader's emphasis on fast delivery."
"The findings are cause for concern if Amazon's practices become the norm, the researchers said - but also show alternative approaches are viable."
""E-commerce heightens the frenzy among retailers to satisfy customers with convenience, speed and cheap prices, offerings that all erode job quality for workers behind the scenes," said Alexander Kowalski, assistant professor of human resources studies in the ILR School. "This is a problematic trend for a large and growing share of the labor market - but it doesn't have to be this way.""
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