When an Amazon employee claimed that one of the company’s warehouses was empty and everyone had quit, the clip went viral. It led many netizens to reveal their opinions about Amazon, and not all of them were positive.
Debates about exploitative working conditions in different companies often circle social media. In July, it was the global E-commerce company Amazon that gained some attention.
A few days after Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos launched into space aboard his very own rocket, a TikToker, @dominic_giannini, claimed that things back on earth were not going smoothly.
In a viral TikTok video an Amazon employee pans one of their warehouses and claims that everyone has quit | Photo: TikTok/dominic_giannini
NO WORKERS AND NO PACKAGES
In the clip that now has thousands of reactions, the on-screen text states, “Everyone’s quit, and there are no packages.” The video also features the song “Bezos I” by Bo Burnham as a nod to the CEO.
Clad in neon yellow vests, employees can be seen standing next to empty shelves. The short clip’s comment section was filled with varying opinions, and many focused on the working conditions within the company.
THE ONLINE DEBATE
In the busy comment area, one user comically asked if it would be “funny” if every Amazon employee quit their job while their boss was in space. At the same time, another person counteracted the clip and said: “No, everyone didn’t quit.”
[The employee] revealed that they only continued to work for Amazon because they couldn’t find another job with a good salary.
The user explained that they work as a driver for the company. Thus, they know what the warehouse looks like. “All the vans went out for the day, so all packages are gone,” they shared to justify why the warehouse was empty.
Comment section of viral TikTok video in which an Amazon employee claims that everyone has quit | Photo: TikTok/dominic_giannini
PACKAGES ON HOLD
Regardless of the validity of the video, members of the online community commented that this clip would explain why their packages were behind schedule. A user stated: “oh legit … that’s why my package was late.”
Someone else echoed this sentiment and said:
“That is why in the past two months all my packages are late!!!!!”
In a viral TikTok video an Amazon employee shows that only a handful of workers are still working in the warehouse | Photo: TikTok/dominic_giannini
UNHAPPY WITH AMAZON
Many netizens used the clip as an opportunity to raise their unhappiness with Amazon. A user shared that the company is “depressing” and added that they wanted to quit.
They revealed that they only continued to work for Amazon because they couldn’t find another job with a good salary. Viewers of the clip praised employees that were brave enough to walk away from Amazon.
Comment section of viral TikTok video in which an Amazon employee claims that everyone has quit | Photo: TikTok/dominic_giannini
OTHER CONCERNS
The general sentiment surrounding the treatment of Amazon employees was negative. Still, some users pointed out that if employees did not like working there, there were “tons and tons of better options.”
Some commentators raised another issue. They indicated that large companies like Amazon don’t have to worry too much about their workers because they will eventually replace them with robots.
One of the Amazon buildings that houses their pickups and returns | Photo: Unsplash/Bryan Angelo
MORE RESPECT
Regardless, many netizens still urged companies to treat their workers better. One user shared it was “good” that the warehouse was empty because this might lead the company to treat employees with more respect.
In 2020, Amazon hired new workers rapidly to keep up with the growing online shopping demand. This did not stop concerns about low morale amongst employees. Based on this clip’s comment section, many employees still want Amazon to improve their working conditions.