NEW: Tonight a special investigation I've been working on about working conditions of drivers who deliver for Amazon.
Those we've spoken to present a bleak picture of increased workloads which leave them feeling forced to adopt unsafe (and potentially illegal) working practices.
Those we've spoken to present a bleak picture of increased workloads which leave them feeling forced to adopt unsafe (and potentially illegal) working practices.
https://twitter.com/BBCNewsnight/status/1377724073925615624
Drivers tell us they've been given significantly bigger delivery loads as a result of the boom in sales during the pandemic but without extra time to compensate.
As a result, they say that the physical and mental pressure they're under is extreme.
As a result, they say that the physical and mental pressure they're under is extreme.
They tell us they've so little time they feel forced to speed, park illegally, can't eat or take a break even though they're on the road for hours on end and even have to urinate in the back of their vans.
Will post more later, for now, make sure you're watching Newsnight, 2245
Will post more later, for now, make sure you're watching Newsnight, 2245
As one Amazon driver told us: “When I first started delivering, it was 120, 130 drops with about 180 parcels per day. And when the pandemic hit they started putting more workload on. Now it's 320 odd parcels and nearly 200 drops per day and sometimes it's physically impossible.”
They’ve not been given extra time to complete these shifts, nor generally extra money (there was a special Covid payment last year but that’s now elapsed).
Shifts are 9 hours. And all the time drivers are monitored by an in vehicle app, recording every part of their performance.
Shifts are 9 hours. And all the time drivers are monitored by an in vehicle app, recording every part of their performance.
Driver: “You become anxious immediately. You get a list of all the drivers and where they are behind or whether they're ahead or so you know, if it's you behind, you'll see straightaway.”
Another driver: “So if you're not meeting your target, you get a message, your manager or whatever saying ‘you’re seven parcels behind what's going on?!’”
Drivers say it’s extremely mentally stressful.
Drivers say it’s extremely mentally stressful.
Drivers say the routes and the app doesn’t make proper allowances for difficult drops, like country lanes or time spent in blocks of flats. As a result, they say- the expectations of what they can credibly deliver in time is wildly optimistic.
In order to meet the requirements we’ve been told at least some drivers feel they have to drive dangerously, speed, forgo rest, forgo eating (despite lengthy periods on the road), park dangerously and illegally. Some said they felt they had to drive over the 9 hour shift limit.
Driver: “Every Amazon driver that I’ve known, they all speed. We all park in places where you not supposed to - double yellows, on busy roads, especially if you've got a house on a country lane and there's no parking near there you just have to set up on the side of the road...
“...run across and do your drop. It’s not safe. You just got to put your hazards on and hope for the best.”
Amazon told us their app tells drivers when they should eat and take a break. Every driver we spoke to said the idea of their taking breaks or eating was risible.
Amazon told us their app tells drivers when they should eat and take a break. Every driver we spoke to said the idea of their taking breaks or eating was risible.
Indeed most couldn’t even have a toilet break. One female driver told us: “I'd have to wait till I emptied three loads just so I had a bit of room. As disgusting as it sounds, I just had to get a cup or get my she-wee in a bottle and then go in the back of the van.”
One driver told us they even stopped wearing a seatbelt in order to shave off a few precious seconds each drop.
Amazon told us parcel numbers are a red herring- saying that their app works out smart routes for drivers to deliver more parcels in less time. The drivers we spoke...
Amazon told us parcel numbers are a red herring- saying that their app works out smart routes for drivers to deliver more parcels in less time. The drivers we spoke...
...to emphatically reject this assessment.
And if they want to complain? Well remember, the drivers aren’t technically even employed by Amazon. They’re self employed contractors- hired through a panoply of logistics companies across the country.
And if they want to complain? Well remember, the drivers aren’t technically even employed by Amazon. They’re self employed contractors- hired through a panoply of logistics companies across the country.
But as a driver told us: “Everything is controlled by Amazon. The route is set by Amazon, the workload is set by Amazon, the mileage is set by Amazon. So basically the logistics firm is basically a middleman, really.”
And if a driver complains or fails to make their delivery numbers? Well of course, they don’t have employee rights and the worst can happen. Take a look at this exchange between myself and a driver we’ve called John. 
Amazon say that drivers can phone a 24 hour hotline with any difficulties. One driver I spoke to said that he’d asked to speak to someone from the company for a fortnight to tell them how bad things were getting and no-one responded. Here’s how another driver saw it.
Remember they don’t have sick pay, or holiday pay, or redress if things go wrong.
It’s important to say we’ve spoken to drivers who before the pandemic hit liked their work and still do. They enjoy the flexibility (others would prefer permanent employment)...
It’s important to say we’ve spoken to drivers who before the pandemic hit liked their work and still do. They enjoy the flexibility (others would prefer permanent employment)...
...it’s a question of things get materially impossible as a result of the extra requirements of the pandemic.
The UK consumer has come to rely on them in that pandemic, from which Amazon has profited enormously. Sales are up 51% in the UK alone in 2020-revenues of £20bn.
The UK consumer has come to rely on them in that pandemic, from which Amazon has profited enormously. Sales are up 51% in the UK alone in 2020-revenues of £20bn.
Consequently they’re not the only company wrestling with an evolving legal picture around employment and the “gig” economy
but they’re the biggest- and if they’re going to continue to play a bigger and yet bigger part in our lives, we need to be aware of how they achieve what...
but they’re the biggest- and if they’re going to continue to play a bigger and yet bigger part in our lives, we need to be aware of how they achieve what...
... they do- if the convenience they offer is worth the price.
Amazon statement below.
Amazon statement below.
You can watch the full piece from me and @Sean__Clare about Amazon and the working conditions of their drivers from tonight’s Newsnight on the link below.
Thanks v much for the response to this. ICYMI it and have 10 minutes to spare this Easter weekend here’s the piece in full. And if you work for Amazon or have done so in the past, keen to hear your experiences- do get in touch in confidence, DMs are open.
NB these are the questions we asked Amazon to answer with regards to this story. You can judge for yourself as to whether they did.
https://twitter.com/lewis_goodall/status/1377775322976948224
Lots more Amazon drivers have got in touch since broadcast. Here’s a few: “I did Amazon driving for approximately 5 months. The experience left me deeply worried that this will become the future of employment and working rights...”
“The experience left me hugely anxious, exhausted and stressed, my levels of anxiety would be so high that I wouldn’t drink anything for my shift so that I didn’t need to go to the toilet. I truly feel sorry for the people that are trapped in that environment.”
Here’s another: “I’m typically delivering 270+ parcels on 175+ stops per day. Increased during busy weeks like this one leading up to Easter with no additional pay. I am unable to complete my round in the allotted time without running from my van to the front doors of houses...”
“...and eating my lunch at 9:30am, as the 20-30 min drive from the Amazon depot to my first stop is the only chunk of time I have.
When you add in time to go pick up the van, I am working 9hrs 15mins for £87.50, with no holiday/sick pay...”
When you add in time to go pick up the van, I am working 9hrs 15mins for £87.50, with no holiday/sick pay...”
“...My colleagues and I are just very small cogs in a massive machine.”
Please do keep your experiences coming in if you work for Amazon or other delivery companies. DMs open and read in confidence.
And do watch and share the piece if you have time this Easter weekend.
And do watch and share the piece if you have time this Easter weekend.
About to make an appearance on @StephenNolan’s 5Live show to talk about this. Do tune in if you can.
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