Study Reveals Amazon Warehouse Workers Experience More Injuries, Burnout Than Previously Reported

Survey includes data from 1,484 personnel across 451 facilities, revealing 69% of Amazon's US warehouse workforce take unpaid leave due to pain or exhaustion; study also links intense workload and pervasive surveillance to mental health issues.

The University of Illinois Chicago’s Center for Urban Economic Development conducted a national study surveying 1,484 Amazon US warehouse workers, revealing that 69% of workers took unpaid time off to recover from job-related pain or exhaustion. The study suggests that injuries and pain experienced at Amazon are more widespread than previously thought.
The research further indicated that work-related mental health issues are prevalent amongst Amazon's workforce, with over half of the surveyed workers reporting feeling burned out. The burnout rates were found to increase with job tenure.
While 63% of workers acknowledged that Amazon has made safety a high priority, many still suffer injuries. It was noted that the harder it is for a worker to keep up with the work pace, the more likely they are to get injured.
Overall, 41% of workers reported being injured while working at an Amazon warehouse, and the figure rises to 51% for those who have worked at the company for more than three years.
Critics and regulators have pointed out a direct connection between Amazon's intense workload, pervasive surveillance, and the high rates of injuries. Despite Amazon's claim that its investments in worker safety and automation are reducing the injury rate, the data suggests otherwise.