Amazon is using Twitter to combat negative public sentiment about the working conditions inside its warehouses.
As spotted by TechCrunch and The Guardian on Thursday, a small group of Amazon employees known as “FC ambassadors” — fulfillment center ambassadors — have created new Twitter accounts as a way to defend Amazon’s warehouse conditions and treatment of workers.
Amazon has been under the microscope for several years over the treatment of warehouse workers, both in the U.S. and abroad.
“This Social Media thing is a new gig and gives us a voice to tell what it’s like in our own bldg,” tweeted Phil, a warehouse worker from Kent, Wash.
The ambassadors are employees who have experience working at fulfillment centers. Each account has a similar Twitter bio — job title; fulfillment center location; length of employment at Amazon; personal interests — and all include a link to Amazon fulfillment center tours. The employees actively respond to negative tweets about Amazon, commenting on everything from wages to bathrooms to breaks.
Hello! Cant comment on Walmart, but I work in an Amazn warehouse in WA and I have never felt like my safety and well being were not a top priorty for my managers. Building is clean and well lit and the benefits are really good.
— Phil – Amazon FC Ambassador ? (@AmazonFCPhil) August 23, 2018
Those definitely arent the conditions at my FC. I do a lot of jobs on the floor (replying to tweets is just another one of the jobs I do). Frankly though its not as hard as most people are making it to be. I dont ever see anyone overworked. Gotta say its a good way to be active.
— Caleb – Amazon FC Ambassador ? (@AmazonFCCaleb) August 23, 2018
Just my personal experience, no propaganda
— Kara – Amazon FC Ambassador ? (@AmazonFCKara) August 24, 2018
I AM HAPPY TO ANNOUNCE THAT I AM NOT A BOT….HAPPY TO BE A AMAZONIAN
— Shauntrelle – Amazon FC Ambassador (@AmazonFCShaunJ) August 24, 2018
My name is Sean-David Harris I’m from Cincinnati, OH
I’m a stow ambassador here at CMH1
I’m a pretty laid back guy until music is in the air!
When not working, I’m wrestling 2 dogs and dreaming of traveling.
Italy is my mission! But until then Olive Garden is life! pic.twitter.com/QM7LDZUmzv— Sean – Amazon FC Ambassador ? (@AmazonFCSean) August 21, 2018
GeekWire reached out to Amazon about the new Twitter accounts and here’s a statement the company shared:
“FC ambassadors are employees who have experience working in our fulfilment centers. It’s important that we do a good job of educating people about the actual environment inside our fulfillment centers, and the FC ambassador program is a big part of that along with the fulfilment center tours we provide. Those tours enable thousands of customers every year to come and see for themselves what it’s like to work inside one of our fulfilment centers.”
Twitter users have already created parody accounts mocking the ambassadors, though some have already been suspended.