Amazon planning second headquarters with 50,000 jobs

[Azure]

Originally Posted by Hack&Lube

For a company like Amazon, who's main goal is logistics efficiency...

Having headquarters across national borders and subject to different laws and regulations would add enough logistical pita and encumbrances to nix the idea.

Want to move equipment and goods or material from one HQ to another? Paperwork, customs clearing, delays, fees. Want to move employees and manpower back and forth? Passports, VISAs, bureacracy, delays, fees.

They will stay in the US. The only reason why Canada could be a viable target for an HQ if it was designed to service this country and Amazon gets more business from half of california than it does for all of Canada.

I don't think all of those logistical issues cost more than the financial benefits they would get from the CDN dollar and lower salaries in Canada.

The Canadian government also looks a lot more willing to stick money into building our tech economy. The US government on the other hand looks like they want to start WW3.

[Azure]

Originally Posted by Hack&Lube

This RFD post seems to indicate Amazon's Canadian distribution centers (such as the one coming soon to Calgary) are pretty bad places to work as well.

https://forums.redflagdeals.com/anyo...7/2/#p28048974



I've read similar stories about the fullfillment centers in the US but this is the price we pay for free, 1 day shipping, and low costs. Heck, I definitely have an Amazon window in my browser right now.

http://highline.huffingtonpost.com/a...h-amazon-temp/

I don't want to defend Amazon here, but warehouse work is physically & mentally (monotonous work) demanding. I think if it were such a big issue people would complain more, but for a lot of people who have a problem finding decent shift work, I think they are happy to work for Amazon.

I've also read Amazon puts in a lot of effort to help their lowest class employees move up through the ranks. More than could be said for Walmart.

[Hack&Lube]

Originally Posted by Azure

I don't want to defend Amazon here, but warehouse work is physically & mentally (monotonous work) demanding. I think if it were such a big issue people would complain more, but for a lot of people who have a problem finding decent shift work, I think they are happy to work for Amazon.

I've also read Amazon puts in a lot of effort to help their lowest class employees move up through the ranks. More than could be said for Walmart.

If you read the articles, a good majority of Amazon's warehouse workforce bottom ranks is outsourced to temp agencies which allow Amazon not to provide them with benefits or any form of stability. The agencies have been reported to exploit their workers while Amazon can deflect blame or dangle the prospect of getting a "blue badge" in front of workers so they put in more effort but not actually translate into any sort of vertical movement.

[getbak]

Originally Posted by Nancy

I was curious to see the other cities, I am guessing this is where that comes from:

If this something you can actually put money on, Denver at 20:1 looks like the best bet there.

San Jose would just be throwing your money away since they didn't even submit a bid and the mayor said they're not interested.

Also, is that Melbourne, Florida and Dublin, Ohio, or are people actually putting money on Amazon building their second North American headquarters in Australia or Ireland?

[Wormius]

Originally Posted by Nancy

I was curious to see the other cities, I am guessing this is where that comes from:







Source

Portland being that high up makes me question that a bit. Portland is a nice place, but seems a little too close to Seattle.

[jayswin]

Originally Posted by Azure

I don't want to defend Amazon here, but warehouse work is physically & mentally (monotonous work) demanding. I think if it were such a big issue people would complain more, but for a lot of people who have a problem finding decent shift work, I think they are happy to work for Amazon.

I've also read Amazon puts in a lot of effort to help their lowest class employees move up through the ranks. More than could be said for Walmart.

LOOOOOLLLLLLL!! You should do a little more research on this.

[White Out 403]

Amazon has a pretty brutal record on their treatment of employees. But not everyone knows that. Check out the FACE of amazon.

[Azure]

Originally Posted by jayswin

LOOOOOLLLLLLL!! You should do a little more research on this.

I have read all the articles and reports on the reported worker abuse. Fact of the matter is I can find you examples of people who started in their warehouses who were given the capability of moving upwards.

A lot of it is a matter of perspective. Amazon is a demanding company to work for. They are also pretty much changing the world around us.

Don't you think the two things go hand in hand?

SpaceX is also a very demanding company to work for, and they also are on the forefront of space travel development.

At some point you have to hustle to make a difference. I think a lot of people on CP and in Canada are used to the cushy lifestyle that Canadians often have in our workplace. Companies in the US are a lot different.

[CliffFletcher]

Originally Posted by Azure

I have read all the articles and reports on the reported worker abuse. Fact of the matter is I can find you examples of people who started in their warehouses who were given the capability of moving upwards.

A lot of it is a matter of perspective. Amazon is a demanding company to work for. They are also pretty much changing the world around us.

Don't you think the two things go hand in hand?

...At some point you have to hustle to make a difference. I think a lot of people on CP and in Canada are used to the cushy lifestyle that Canadians often have in our workplace. Companies in the US are a lot different.

As Amazon and other major corporations are changing the U.S., America is roiling with populist fury, and hatred of the establishment and corporate America has never been higher. Do you think the two go hand in hand?

[Snuffleupagus]

Hate to say it but this is an eastern choice, Toronto, Atlanta or Pitt are the obvious choices but I have a funny feeling about Rochester.

[Azure]

Originally Posted by CliffFletcher

As Amazon and other major corporations are changing the U.S., America is roiling with populist fury, and hatred of the establishment and corporate America has never been higher. Do you think the two go hand in hand?

Hatred for corporations and the establishment is not JUST an American thing. Look how pissed off Canadians are when it looks like our finance minister is taking advantage of the system.

[White Out 403]

Originally Posted by Azure

I have read all the articles and reports on the reported worker abuse. Fact of the matter is I can find you examples of people who started in their warehouses who were given the capability of moving upwards.

A lot of it is a matter of perspective. Amazon is a demanding company to work for. They are also pretty much changing the world around us.

Don't you think the two things go hand in hand?

SpaceX is also a very demanding company to work for, and they also are on the forefront of space travel development.

At some point you have to hustle to make a difference. I think a lot of people on CP and in Canada are used to the cushy lifestyle that Canadians often have in our workplace. Companies in the US are a lot different.

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/bu...-10458159.html

yeah, lazy co-workers with breast cancer.

i have to think your just ignoring the data and printed stories, and just assuming its 'lol lazy north americans'.

[Flamenspiel]

^^Its a reality! Get used to it. Canadian workers are in competition with global resourcing centers all over the world. Make no mistake about it, these are not sweatshop jobs, they are skilled labor(with multiple degrees in some cases) and very keen. Canadian kids growing up today will have it tough.

To be clear, the Canadian government is completely passive on this file, and we may have no choice because Canada has always been a trading nation. Essentially job related protectionism is something where there is consensus in the US between the left and the right, it will not change.

[Violator]

Dcs are essentailty meat grinders the companies that set them up run and operate them know this.They are essentialy built like prisons and run like prisons.you get a really good workout and most people will like the work.

[iggy_oi]

It is an unfortunate trend that more and more people are accepting of diminished standards for workplaces.

There are a few ways to reverse or slow down the trend but I think this scenario really speaks to the need for making postsecondary education more affordable or free. The amount of debt students are taking on as they enter the workforce is getting higher and higher, and the percentage of their income that is lost to paying off the interest and principle on these loans is getting even bigger because wages aren’t increasing at the same rates as the student loan totals are.

If work conditions are out of our control, then I think looking for other ways of improving the quality of life for workers will be very important to the majority of people in the long run. Putting people in a position to enter the workforce with little or no debt would definitely take the sting out of working for a more demanding company because if instead of a chunk of their paycheque going to debt, they would have more disposable income going to things that can actually make their life more enjoyable and themselves better able to handle the extra stress. There’s more economic benefits to it like increased consumerism and job creation. Obviously it would all come at a cost, but IMO the long and short term benefits outweigh the costs.

[CliffFletcher]

Originally Posted by iggy_oi

It is an unfortunate trend that more and more people are accepting of diminished standards for workplaces.

The 20 per cent have accepted this laissez-faire global system because they're doing well from it. And since almost all social, business, and political commentators are in that 20 per cent, we've mistaken it for consensus. But we're just now starting to see that a pretty big proportion of society isn't going along with it. And the losers still have enough clout in a democracy to burn down the whole system if they feel it's no longer serving them.

[jayswin]

Originally Posted by iggy_oi

It is an unfortunate trend that more and more people are accepting of diminished standards for workplaces.

There are a few ways to reverse or slow down the trend but I think this scenario really speaks to the need for making postsecondary education more affordable or free. The amount of debt students are taking on as they enter the workforce is getting higher and higher, and the percentage of their income that is lost to paying off the interest and principle on these loans is getting even bigger because wages aren’t increasing at the same rates as the student loan totals are.

If work conditions are out of our control, then I think looking for other ways of improving the quality of life for workers will be very important to the majority of people in the long run. Putting people in a position to enter the workforce with little or no debt would definitely take the sting out of working for a more demanding company because if instead of a chunk of their paycheque going to debt, they would have more disposable income going to things that can actually make their life more enjoyable and themselves better able to handle the extra stress. There’s more economic benefits to it like increased consumerism and job creation. Obviously it would all come at a cost, but IMO the long and short term benefits outweigh the costs.

None of this is happening.

Working conditions will get worse in North America as we look to compete with a shrinking worldwide economy where people are being replaced by automation. Then you just hope that the country you live in is a world leader in guaranteed minimum income so things aren't too crazy.

[iggy_oi]

Originally Posted by jayswin

None of this is happening.

It’s happening in a lot countries.

Working conditions will get worse in North America as we look to compete with a shrinking worldwide economy where people are being replaced by automation. Then you just hope that the country you live in is a world leader in guaranteed minimum income so things aren't too crazy.

They’re getting worse that’s for sure, thought I think working conditions will only get as bad as people will let them get. Also I strongly disagree that the implementation of a universal minimum income will result in anything close to a hopeful situation in the long run.

[jayswin]

It’s happening in a lot countries

This isn't sarcasm, but do you have any sources for me to read into that? I hadn't heard that at all.

Originally Posted by iggy_oi

They’re getting worse that’s for sure, thought I think working conditions will only get as bad as people will let them get. Also I strongly disagree that the implementation of a universal minimum income will result in anything close to a hopeful situation in the long run.

No, conditions won't only get as bad as people will let them get. They'll get as bad as people are willing to work in to put food on the table in a shrinking job market (which I guess is technically as bad as they'll let them get). It's going to get a lot worse.

And yes guaranteed minimum income won't be a hopeful solution long term, it will just be a stop gap for countries to still cling to hope and avoid societal breakdowns as most lower and middle class jobs are moved to automation in the coming decades.

[iggy_oi]

Originally Posted by jayswin

This isn't sarcasm, but do you have any sources for me to read into that? I hadn't heard that at all.

About countries having free tuition for post secondary education? Germany and Denmark are the first countries that come to mind. Here’s a short list from a quick search:

http://www.investopedia.com/articles...ge-tuition.asp

No, conditions won't only get as bad as people will let them get. They'll get as bad as people are willing to work in to put food on the table in a shrinking job market (which I guess is technically as bad as they'll let them get). It's going to get a lot worse.

We’ll have to agree to disagree on some parts of this.

And yes guaranteed minimum income won't be a hopeful solution long term, it will just be a stop gap for countries to still cling to hope and avoid societal breakdowns as most lower and middle class jobs are moved to automation in the coming decades.

Which is why I think people who are in favour of a guaranteed income need to really start considering other options instead of pushing for a stop gap “solution”. Especially since it could be argued a universal income could over the long term actually accelerate the overall decline in quality of life.