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BBC report: Working at Amazon could cause 'physical and mental illness'

November 25, 2013

BBC reporter Adam Littler recently went undercover as a warehouse "picker" at online retailer Amazon. He brought with him a hidden camera, and set about documenting the often grueling job, which can involve walking upwards of 11 miles in a shift.

According to the report, Littler would be expected to collect the next item on his scanner's screen within 33 seconds, then off to the next one, and so on. If he makes a mistake, the device beeps at him, while sending performance data to his supervisors. Too many "beeps" can lead to disciplinary action.

Professor Michael Marmot, who the BBC says is "one of Britain's leading experts on stress at work," was shown the video and asked to comment. He said the working conditions as documented are "all the bad stuff at once."

The characteristics of this type of job, the evidence shows increased risk of mental illness and physical illness ... There are always going to be menial jobs, but we can make them better or worse. And it seems to me the demands of efficiency at the cost of individual's health and wellbeing — it's got to be balanced.

Amazon told the BBC that independent workplace safety inspections had not triggered any concerns, and that applicants are warned in advance that many jobs with the company are "physically demanding."