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Friday, February 15, 2008

Re: Amazon.com Fires Stranger Blogger

posted by on February 15 at 11:25 AM

Give Me My Living Wage Back

More than a few things I’d wanted to say have already been touched upon in the comments thread (nobody knew my concert review was Amazon-related, etc), and Rotten In Denmark really nailed it. I don’t think that my personal complaints do much good—yeah, I disagree with what happened. Huge insight. But I can’t help but be amazed—almost impressed—at the stupidity behind the intent of the whole deal.

The company thought the blog post was bad PR. If that’s your opinion, don’t you speak to the offender and attempt to make the thing as quiet as possible? Could’ve been that simple. But instead of a largely ignored post (only had one comment before I was fired) that told a funny story about a weird “concert” in Seattle, there’s a follow-up about a silly, brash firing, along with a bunch of complaints from former—and current—Amazon employees. PR=Fail. And the only reason anyone’s reading it is because it happened to involve The Stranger. What about the commenter who developed a long-term sickness and was fired? Or the other perfectly capable employees and temps who have their careers upended over corporate overreactions and have no legal recourse? That’s the issue. Local companies who project their own versions of “Do No Evil” should be held accountable when they don’t treat blurry-line work issues with some adult perspective and respect—especially when said issue isn’t doing a thing to the company’s bottom line.

Anyway, I’m glad this could get other horror stories out in the open, and beyond that, I figure it’s not too rude to ask if Slog readers know of any openings for volunteer work—writing-intensive, teaching, etc. I’ve got 826 Seattle in mind; any other leads or interest would be appreciated, and I promise that if, say, Michael Bolton visits the office, I’ll obtain level-four clearance before whispering his name into the wind.

RSS icon Comments

1

Frankly, I think it was an embarrassment to Amazon. This singer comes into the office and kindly plays for them (and for his own purposes, I know), and then Amazon turns around and disses him on a Stranger blog. Not very gracious.

Posted by Brendan | February 15, 2008 11:36 AM
2

Billy Ray Cyrus = bad PR. That's the lesson I'll take away from this debacle.

Posted by Hernandez | February 15, 2008 11:55 AM
3

you're an idiot for taking that risk as a contractor. deserved to be fired in my opinion.

Posted by emily | February 15, 2008 11:58 AM
4

Didn't you sign a confidentiality agreement?

Posted by Anon | February 15, 2008 12:00 PM
5

Anon, as a former Amazon temp (and later 5 yr employee), I'm certain that he did sign a NDA that specifically discussed blogging.

Posted by Anon 2 | February 15, 2008 12:05 PM
6

Why do employers fuck with you at will?

Lack of union representation is a major reason. Only 7.4% of workers in the private sector were unionized in 2006. This has fallen from 9.0% in 2000, 12.1% in 1990, and 20.6% in 1980 (down from a peak of 39% in 1958).

Workers have no representation, no collective bargaining power, and no rights.

Posted by Mahtli69 | February 15, 2008 12:11 PM
7

I just signed a job offer for a non-union position at a large company, and they gave me an entire booklet explaining why the company is an open shop. It's not really relevant to my position in particular (although it would be fun and preferable to belong to a glorified secretary's union, and go to meetings and get some representation), but it was interesting to hear the rationale. It boils down to more direct communications, buffering employees from strikes, and keeping the company free from "restrictive practices that hurt its competitive strength and raise costs."

Posted by Katelyn | February 15, 2008 12:17 PM
8

if a company (or industry) treats their workers well, there is no reason for a union. if a company (or industry) doesn't.... then there is need.

Posted by infrequent | February 15, 2008 12:25 PM
9

I agree. You deserved to get fired, so stop bitching. It's not the end of the world, you were just a temp, it's not the end of your 'career'. You're just coming across as an asshole. But, best of luck on the job hunt!

Posted by chickpea | February 15, 2008 12:26 PM
10

deserved to be fired? for an opinion? What the hell are you guys talking about? It's an opinion of one person, it has no bearing on anything. Everyone today is so damn touchy. Companies act like insecure whiny rich teenagers who get mad if someone criticizes them. The fact that this needs to be in agreements before working is a sign of throwing away our own rights to the will of rich higher-ups.

Posted by Jeff | February 15, 2008 12:38 PM
11

@9: He's not bitching and he thinks the whole debacle is far from being the end of the world (he's pretty happy to be freed from his cubicle).

What about his request for volunteer opps? Anyone have any ideas?

Posted by Beth | February 15, 2008 12:50 PM
12

So sorry, Sam. Especially since this was in the name of good-natured fun and not really harmful to Amazon's big picture.

By the way, if Jeff Bezos wasn't a jillionaire he'd be viewed as a smart but socially retarded man who laughs and acts inappropriately. Funny, isn't it, how money can scrape that shit right off your shoes?

I had a finance professor who worked at Amazon for several years. I never had a lot of respect for him or his teaching ability because he was free market Bushie. His last assignment for us before sending us out into our respective summers was to read Ayn Rand. And believe me, this cat had no shortage of rational self-interest.

But what dismayed me the most is that he was from Amazon - a company I thought I loved (as a shopper). Man, if I was looking for a book or CD, they had it or could get it and at a great price. Incredible.

Sad, then , that a company which I thought was partly a public service should also be such an IBM-cloned tight ass.

Fuck 'em if they can't take a joke.

Posted by Bauhaus | February 15, 2008 1:01 PM
13

@7 -

It boils down to more direct communications, buffering employees from strikes, and keeping the company free from "restrictive practices that hurt its competitive strength and raise costs."

Well, that's nice and sugar-coated, isn't it? The only honest part of that statement is "keeping the company free from 'restrictive practices that hurt its competitive strength and raise costs'", which basically asserts their right to pay you less and fire you at will.

The rest is so backwards from the truth that it is insulting. Buffering employees from strikes? What a crock of shit.


Posted by Mahtli69 | February 15, 2008 1:07 PM
14

@13 Hey, you're preaching to the choir. But I also know that I'm getting paid more than fairly for my work -- and that I can quit without notice just as legitimately as they can fire me without notice.

You're right though, the entire booklet was a crock of shit and completely transparent. Most corporate stuff is.

Posted by Katelyn | February 15, 2008 1:14 PM
15

Amazon made the correct decision from a human resources standpoint. Bringing you in to talk about the situation would've only made it more likely somebody else (even you) would get careless with company information that actually means something. You can bet that Amazon employees are on high alert right now and will be careful about what they blog and when they blog it. Amazon took an opportunity to make an example of someone. It just happened to be you. Most other companies would've done the exact same thing.

That said, it sucks you lost your job. Tough way to learn a lesson. Good luck.

Posted by Ryan | February 15, 2008 1:17 PM
16

They are just mad because they invested all of that money into the "Kindle" and nobody wants to buy it.

Can you say Apple Newton?

Posted by Ken Doll | February 15, 2008 1:25 PM
17

I'm a volunteer tutor at 826 Seattle. The children who come to the drop-in center and do homework are great. It's rewarding, but also reassuring. The next generation, despite the struggles of youth, is doing all right.

We're closed next week because Seattle Public Schools are on break. Fill out the volunteer form, call sometime during school hours, and I'm sure I'll be meeting you soon. :)

Posted by V | February 15, 2008 1:44 PM
18

I volunteer at the Greenwood Space Travel Supply Store (the retail fundraising/outreach arm of 826 Seattle), and I second 17's comment. The kids are awesome.

Posted by tim | February 15, 2008 2:24 PM
19

Wow, how predictable...you work for Corestaff as a temp to support yourself while the Stranger doesn't pay you a living wage to blog for them, and you get yourself fired for violating the rather commonsensical policy that you not blog about your work. And then you go on to seek more morally acceptable work by using the Stranger to seek a job at hipster-reading center 826. My god, could you possibly be a more predictable waste of space?

Posted by irritated | February 15, 2008 3:39 PM
20

Wow, how predictable...you work for Corestaff as a temp to support yourself while the Stranger doesn't pay you a living wage to blog for them, and you get yourself fired for violating the rather commonsensical policy that you not blog about your work. And then you go on to seek more morally acceptable work by using the Stranger to seek a job at hipster-reading center 826. My god, could you possibly be a more predictable waste of space?

Posted by irritated | February 15, 2008 3:39 PM
21

@19/20: Are you offering me a job at your dad's factory instead?

Posted by Sam M. | February 15, 2008 4:05 PM
22

@21 Ha ha ha, awesome

Posted by Gregz | February 15, 2008 6:01 PM
23

Holy shit Sam @21, that is some seriously 1337 passive aggressiveness right there. You can't actually expect 19/20 to even begin to comprehend that you just completely schooled his sorry ass, can you?

Posted by seattle98104 | February 15, 2008 8:42 PM

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