I appreciated samizdis’ comment, which I’ll just copy in full:
FTC Commissioner Rohit Chopra has also put out a statement [1], titled Regarding the Deception of Delivery Drivers by Amazon.com Commission File No. 1923123
Some extracts:
> In total, Amazon stole nearly one-third of drivers’ tips to pad its own bottom line. ...
> ... Amazon executives chose not to alter the practice, instead viewing drivers’ complaints as a “PR risk,” which they sought to contain through deception. ...
> Today’s order provides substantial redress to the families victimized by Amazon’s anticompetitive deception. However, this cannot be the only action we take to protect workers and families from dominant middlemen. ...
> I also agree with Acting Chairwoman Slaughter and Commissioner Phillips that preying on workers justifies punitive measures far beyond the restitution provided here, and I believe the FTC should act now to deploy dormant authorities to trigger civil penalties and other relief in cases like this one.
I am truly amazed that the world's (top, second?) richest man runs a company that cleared $7.2 billion during a global pandemic year, but had to steal $62m to make its books look clean.
Whoever participated this should lose their jobs, and be prosecuted. Really scummy move!
I appreciated samizdis’ comment, which I’ll just copy in full:
FTC Commissioner Rohit Chopra has also put out a statement [1], titled Regarding the Deception of Delivery Drivers by Amazon.com Commission File No. 1923123
Some extracts:
> In total, Amazon stole nearly one-third of drivers’ tips to pad its own bottom line. ...
> ... Amazon executives chose not to alter the practice, instead viewing drivers’ complaints as a “PR risk,” which they sought to contain through deception. ...
> Today’s order provides substantial redress to the families victimized by Amazon’s anticompetitive deception. However, this cannot be the only action we take to protect workers and families from dominant middlemen. ...
> I also agree with Acting Chairwoman Slaughter and Commissioner Phillips that preying on workers justifies punitive measures far beyond the restitution provided here, and I believe the FTC should act now to deploy dormant authorities to trigger civil penalties and other relief in cases like this one.
[1] https://www.ftc.gov/system/files/documents/public_statements...