The top government lawyers in 13 states are calling on Amazon to release data on the number of COVID-19 cases and deaths among the tech giant’s workforce. The attorneys general sent letters Tuesday to Amazon and its grocery subsidiary Whole Foods demanding the data and urging the companies to reinstate a defunct unlimited time off policy.
The letters ask for details on Amazon’s workplace safety policies, compliance with workplace safety laws, and a “state-by-state breakdown for each company on the number of their workers who have been infected with and died from COVID-19.”
The AGs want Amazon to extend its unlimited, unpaid time off policy wherever a state of emergency exists. They’re also seeking an explanation of how Amazon deals with reports of retaliation against employees who speak out about workplace safety, citing “disturbing media reports alleging such retaliation by Amazon.” Those acts could be in violation of the Occupation Safety and Health Act, according to the letters.
An Amazon spokesperson shared this statement with GeekWire in response to the letters:
Safety is our top priority and we are committed to ensuring a clean and safe workplace. We’ve implemented over 150 significant process changes—from enhanced cleaning and social distancing measures to new efforts like disinfectant spraying. We’ve also distributed personal protective gear like masks across our entire operations network. We’ll continue to invest in safety, pay, and benefits for our teams who are playing an invaluable role in getting items to communities around the world.
The signatories include AGs from Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Pennsylvania, and Washington. Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healy led the effort.
The group first contacted Amazon on March 25 and had telephone conversations with company representatives to discuss the coronavirus crisis over the past few weeks.
“Amazon and Whole Foods are occupying a unique space during this crisis, providing millions of Americans with groceries and necessary supplies,” the letter says. “We understand that both companies are seeing a significant increase in sales as well, as consumers rely even more on online shopping and buy more groceries as they stay at home. It is incumbent upon Amazon and Whole Foods as businesses and employers not to worsen the emergency by failing to take every possible step to protect their employees and their customers.”
Amazon has repeatedly declined to disclose the total number of its employees who have tested positive for the virus. Jana Jumpp, an Amazon worker in Indiana who has been tracking confirmed cases, told 60 Minutes this week that at least 600 workers have been diagnosed with COVID-19. Other reports have put the number higher.
Amazon doubled down on its decision not to disclose COVID-19 data during the 60 minutes interview on Sunday. Dave Clark, Amazon’s senior vice president of operations, would not confirm the number, claiming it “isn’t particularly useful because it’s relative to the size of the building and then the overall community infection rate.”
The lack of transparency is the subject of an employee activist movement seeking to put pressure on the company to implement stronger safety policies. Amazon fired some of the leading protestors for violating the company’s external communications policy and other rules.
Amazon says it is heeding public health officials’ advice in its response. The company’s process changes include mandatory temperature screenings of employees at all facilities and increased hourly pay. Amazon also told 60 minutes it is developing an ultraviolet robot that kills viruses on surfaces and considering using video recording and AI to track infections among employees.
