Jeff Bezos on the back foot over Amazon

Who’d work for Amazon? After spending recent years dodging criticism over its treatment of staff in its warehouses (or “fulfilment centres” in company parlance), the online retailer is under fire again for questionable work practices.

Amazon founder and chief executive Jeff Bezos (above) went on the defensive yesterday following a damning expose by the New York Times. The 5,400-word article, based on interviews with over 100 former and current employees, portrayed the firm as little more than a high-tech sweatshop in which white-collar employees were routinely humiliated and encouraged to engage in back-stabbing.

“Nearly every person I worked with, I saw cry at their desk,” was how one former staff member recalled working at Amazon.

Others highlighted how they were criticised for cutting back on work in order to care for a parent with cancer or were forced to go on a business trip the day after a miscarriage.

The New York Times claimed Amazon was conducting an experiment in just how far it can push workers to get them to achieve its ever-expanding ambitions.

Unsurprisingly, internet users reacted with anger, with many threatening to boycott the retailer.

In an internal email sent to Amazon’s 150,000 employees, (of which there are more than 350 in Ireland), Bezos claimed the article did not describe the company he knew.

“[The article] claims that our intentional approach is to create a soulless, dystopian workplace where no fun is had and no laughter heard. I don’t recognise this Amazon, and I very much hope you don’t either.”

Bezos went on to suggest that anyone working in a company like the one described in the article would be crazy to stay. It would seem, on this account at least, he’s correct.