10 Rules That Can Get You Fired From Amazon

[carld]

Those rules really aren't that crazy, and aren't very different from the rules at my last factory job. The no gum rule is a bit odd though, since it's okay to actually chew gum on the job.

[kindlekitten]

Originally Posted by NVash

I have a question for all who keep saying these rules mainly apply to the temp workers, did you know that many people have to temp there before they have any chance of getting hired?

I find that as a bit of a cop out. I dont care if theyre temp or not, many businesses these days only hire through temp agencies and put the employees through so many things its crazy. Most of the things they go through may or may not be illegal, no one cares. You have a problem? Theres the door. And in this recession they know no one is taking the door, theyll just suffer because theyre glad they got a job.

it's been that way for a long time. that was the standard at Microsoft even 15 years ago

[NVash]

Doesnt make it right.

[PitterPat]

I don't see much that is crazy in this list, especially for an assembly line. Over 20 years ago I worked in the office part of a manufacturing plant in the aerospace industry. No food or drink was allowed on the plant floor. Flat leather lace up shoes only were allowed on the plant floor - if you worked in the office and wore heels, you had to change shoes to go on the floor. Bags were checked by security as we entered and exited the building every day. You better be there on time every day! Many of the same rules that were implemented on the floor were applied in the office areas "just because". Bells went off to signal beginning and end of lunch time and break times. Working at a desk and needing to be on the phone with other offices, sometimes I was late going to lunch. Some people thought that I still should return to my desk at the end of my designated lunch time, didn't matter if I had just left my desk 3 minutes earlier.

Many states are have "employment at will" - meaning the employer you can fire you for any or no reason at all. They don't have to give a reason.

[kindlekitten]

Originally Posted by NVash

Doesnt make it right.

there's no right or wrong about it, it's just today's reality. the other side of that coin is that many positions now have a year long probationary period, meaning that you have no union (if applicable) or other assurances or guarantees regarding your job. essentially if your boss is having a bad day and you are in the line of fire you can be sacked without recourse

[Andrew H.]

Originally Posted by kindlekitten

there's no right or wrong about it, it's just today's reality. the other side of that coin is that many positions now have a year long probationary period, meaning that you have no union (if applicable) or other assurances or guarantees regarding your job. essentially if your boss is having a bad day and you are in the line of fire you can be sacked without recourse

Without recourse, but with unemployment at least - which provides some disincentive to fire too freely.

[CWatkinsNash]

Originally Posted by Andrew H.

Without recourse, but with unemployment at least - which provides some disincentive to fire too freely.

Exactly. Firing frequently without documented reasons proving that it the employee was at fault can cost a company quite a bit. Most companies have plenty of policies in place to make sure their supervisors don't end up costing them money in this way, especially since the benefits decision can be independent of the worker's status - for example, they don't recognize "probationary periods" when determining eligibility.