The largest e-commerce company and marketplace globally, Amazon.com, LLC, is now facing the heat and controversy from labor groups, regulators, and politicians after pressuring the company to reveal the total number of COVID-19 cases within the company. Amazon's workforce had massive COVID-related cases during the past months, which the company kept in secret despite the growing threat to one's health.
Amazon News via YouTube Screenshot
Amazon, LLC, recently revealed its whopping 19, 816 positive and presumed COVID-19 cases for the past months between March to September. Amazon said that this was rather unexpected due to its estimate and expectations to have a larger number due to the size of the company's workforce.
According to the company's blog post, Amazon and Whole Foods Market, front-line employees' size was 1.3 million across the United States. The group of researchers and statisticians have compiled studies from John Hopkins University, considering each employee's age composition and geographic location, and estimating to have 33,952 cases among its workers.
However, Amazon stated that it was lower than the expected cases by 42 percent. Amazon also gave the public a state-by-state version of the table that presents COVID-19 positive subjects' data among its employees. The e-commerce company entirely attributes its success to the preventive measures it has enforced within the company.
Amazon states that its effort to stem the Novel Coronavirus among its workforce alone is a massive step for protecting its front liners. The company also sees that asymptomatic cases stem the transmission and catch the virus, further safeguarding employees.
Amazon's Secret: Labor Group's Pressure and Urgence Reveal Cases
Amazon News via YouTube Screenshot
According to CNBC, Amazon was continuously pressured and asked by labor groups, regulators, and politicians to reveal its COVID-19 cases. Months after relentless pressure, Amazon's data showed that it only has 1.44 percent positive cases of the entire company's total workforce.
Several of the groups were concerned about the growing risk and threat of the SARS-CoV 2 virus amongst factory workers who were believed to be the taken care of less than other employees. Over the past months, the e-commerce company workers compiled the data on a public database to reveal the cases found within its warehouse employees.
Amazon is known to reject the idea of revealing its positive cases, saying that it will lead to confusion and public fear, also lacking in context. However, on its blog post last Thursday, Amazon says that data such as their revelations would help the company's transparency and promote 'best-practices' in handling cases.
Amazon further says that inter-company or agency's contribution or publication of similar data would show and promote impressive handling against COVID-19.
How did Amazon handle COVID-19?
Amazon boasts of a world-class facility and laboratory to test and handle COVID-19 cases within the company. If it were not for Amazon's early action and intervention, it would have suffered more cases and fatalities within its organization.
Amazon said that it had utilized its engineers, researchers, and program managers to move their 'day jobs' to focus on the initiative against the coronavirus. According to Amazon, it aims to have 50,000 tests per day over its 650 sites, come November.
Amazon has been battling COVID-19 since its early days in March with extensive disinfection processes and the requirement of protective equipment such as the face mask. The e-commerce company also boasts of its bonuses for its employees, especially those who have risked their lives to deliver Amazon's products.
