The Business of Fashion
Agenda-setting intelligence, analysis and advice for the global fashion community.
Agenda-setting intelligence, analysis and advice for the global fashion community.
NEW YORK, United States — The complaint was filed on Wednesday in the federal court in Brooklyn, New York, by three employees of the JFK8 fulfilment centre in Staten Island, and by family members.
One employee, Barbara Chandler, said she tested positive for Covid-19 in March and later saw several household members become sick, including a cousin who died on April 7.
The lawsuit said Amazon has made JFK8, which employs about 5,000, a "place of danger" by impeding efforts to stop the coronavirus spreading, boosting productivity at the expense of safety.
It said Amazon forces employees to work at "dizzying speeds, even if doing so prevents them from socially distancing, washing their hands, and sanitising their work spaces."
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Amazon did not comment on the lawsuit, but said it has always followed guidance from health authorities and its workplace safety experts since the coronavirus pandemic began.
The Seattle-based company has benefited as the pandemic forced many consumers unable to visit physical stores to shop online more.
Unions, elected officials and some employees have faulted Amazon's treatment of workers, including the firing of some critical of warehouse conditions.
Chief Executive Jeff Bezos said last week that Amazon has not fired people for such criticism.
Amazon is spending more than $800 million on coronavirus safety in this year's first half, including cleaning, temperature checks and face masks.
At least 800 workers in US distribution centres have tested positive for Covid-19, according to an employee's unofficial tally.
Amazon ended 2019 with 798,000 full-and part-time employees.
The lawsuit seeks an injunction requiring that Amazon comply with worker safety and public nuisance laws, and not punish employees who develop Covid-19 symptoms or are quarantined.
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The case is Palmer et al v Amazon.com Inc., US District Court, Eastern District of New York, No. 20-02468.
By Jonathan Stempel with additional reporting by Jeffrey Dastin; editor: Tom Brown
This week, talent expert Suki Sandhu OBE and advisor and executive search consultant Karen Harvey shared insights on the core skill sets expected of leaders and managers in the fashion industry today. BoF Careers shares key learnings from the event.
Discover the most exciting career opportunities now available on BoF Careers — including jobs from Gucci, Simone Rocha and Bloomingdale’s.
BoF spoke to HR executives and talent experts at Alexander McQueen, On and Deckers Brands — global employers currently recruiting on BoF Careers — to understand what skills are most relevant to the fashion industry and how to upskill in them in the workplace.
The nature of working in retail is changing at pace as the purpose of stores continues to evolve. BoF Careers examines how in-store employees can hone and develop their skill sets for success in retail or its adjacent industries, sharing expertise from retail leaders and fashion executives who began their careers on the shop floor.