CHA2 - Amazon.Com (First Day)

The following information provides my experience with Amazon.Com.

Orientation was on November 22, 2011 at the CHA1 facility off of Volkswagen Drive in Chattanooga, TN. this initially was were I was scheduled to began employment on November 30, 2011. The position was in the Pack Division of the facility and my scheduled days and shift hours were, Wednesday through Saturday, 6:30 to 5:00am...

On November 22, 2011 at 11:28 I had seen I missed a call from an Integrity staff member at the off-site hiring location. I returned the called and was asked if I would be interested in working at the Cleveland, TN., CHA2 location. The staff member stated my start date would be November 23, 2011 and I would receive a $50 bonus for accepting the change in assignment (1x bonus).  I accepted the change, not realizing it wasn't Cleveland, but Charleston. The staff member reminded me to arrive by 5:30 no later because of staffing needs at the facility and to wear the appropriate dress attire as discussed in the interview. (bluejeans, no hoodies, etc) I asked if I was to continue to orientation at the CHA1 location and was instructed to do so, because their was not any difference from CHA1 or CHA2's orientation. (the orientation covered the same details as I had watched during the interview process, in addition to Sexual Harassment, Discrimination, Jeffrey Bezos' discussing how and why, Amazon.Com is the #1 online retailer and additional information regarding lockers, physical requirements, excercising and so forth)

November 23, 2011 (arrival 5:15pm)

The entrance of the required door for your first day was opened and 2 Integrity staff members were standing at the entrance door to verify no cell phones or any items was on your person at that time. (during orientation they advised all personnel to refrain from bringing any pocketbooks etc until a locker was assigned due to security measures and what you were allowed to have on your person once you clocked in)

I proceeded to the sign in desk with Rob (Lead Management Staff - Operations) was waiting for the next person. I signed in and was asked to be seated in the 2 rows of folding chairs. I carried on a conversation with a member of Integrity Lead Staff Personnel and asked about his experience etc. The time passing was slow and actually made me feel as if my time wasn't valuable as they continued to have myself and others wait.... Additional Integrity Temps continued to arrive and check in.  A member of Integrity's lead management staff took 3 temps across from me (they were next), after them their still was 3 more before myself. (woman-man-woman how they were seated) Then their was myself, and men followed for the most part. 

Time continued and I asked to the use the facilities. Unfortunately their wasn't a bathroom available at the area we were waiting in, but I explained that I had been waiting and drinking water. So, a member of Integrity's team escorted me out of the building and to the Integrity's, on-site office for use of their facilities. Arrived back and sat down, to wait about 5 or so minutes to have 3 additional people called, which wasn't in order. The man across from me and the 2 men after me were asked back and the balance of us were still waiting.

Finally, at 6:53 the Operations Management Team began calling our names. I was the 3rd to be called up to receive a slip to return to Amazon, with a change in the days scheduled to work, however a pay rate increase of $1.00 was given due to working the Y-shift aka Friday through Monday, 6:30 pm to 5:00am shift. (Pay rate went from $11.50 to $12.50 per hr) and for the inconvenience I was also given a $5.00 shell gift card and was told to return with the slip he had given at or by 6pm on Friday, November 25, 2011 and I would be sent straight back to receive badge and enter into the conference room.

The concern I had was that I had driven 38 miles one way to work and first of all $5 wasn't a dent in what it had cost for me to drive to exit 33, Charleston exit (not Cleveland) and then I arrived as instructed, waited for almost an hour and a half to receive a slip to began on Friday and a $5 gift card for inconvenience, although the lead management staff requested 3 men to start work that night due to needs of the warehouse. The process was questionable, but I smiled and exited.

The next day, or I should say the "official start of day  1" is the beginning of what I should have seen coming during my employment at Amazon.com through Integrity Staffing Solutions. (FYI - the on-site Integrity office is not what you would expect, so read my next blog for continued details)