The previous 2 blogs concerning Amazon.com and Integrity Staffing Solutions, I shared the initial hiring process, orientation and what I was to believe would be my first day of employment. Now, I am letting everyone know about my "real initial first day" (receive earnings).
Once I have shared my work related experience with Amazon.com and Integrity Staffing Solutions, I will post an additional blog providing why I made the decision to go to work for Amazon, prior employment background and my overall personal experience and views about Amazon and Integrity Staffing Solutions as an employee and moving forward.
Amazon.com day 1, Friday, November 25th arrival at 5:48pm.
Entered into the same door as I was instructed. Once again their was 2 male, Lead support staff at the entrance door to verify that their wasn't any cell phones, lighters, etc on person. I went to the Operations Management (Rob) to sign in. I handed my slip and he directed me to the area on his right side (my left) to the table with a young man to request my badge. Once I had received my badge, I was then asked to go straight behind him into the conference area and have a seat at the table. (I was #3 at the table) We were asked by an Amazon associate, Amanda to write our name using the black marker provided on the back of the orange vest (last name), place badge on provided lanyard, glove size and to watch the video about loading trucks with Amazon packages. (this repeated about 3 or more times)
After approximately 8-10 employees had arrived and were ready, Amanda took us on a brief tour of the locker area, break room, bathrooms and pointed out the water cooler area. Upon completion of this brief tour, we were then asked to sign in with our badge to verify it was accepted. Amanda proceeded to introduce us to our the Amazon.com trainer during the "pack school training process". (their was 7 areas of training) The most involved school was using the computers to scan, review error codes and knowing the process of what happened next, if necessary....
To come to a close about the information provided above, the company did not start our time at 6:30, it began when we clocked in using our badge. The first break was given at 9 (15 minute - I will comment later about breaks and lunches) and upon our return to training, our trainer I am sure felt was if he was being rushed due to Amanda's continued watch and other classes basically waiting on our trainer to finish. However, our trainer wanted to make sure we understood the process, steps, equipment, the protective eye, hands and use of certain equipment with causing injury to ourselves. Prior to lunch, Amanda had our trainer take us out to the Pack floor for "on the job training experience".
Overall, the 1st day, you are in pack school and with the trainer the balance of the night, although you are working and getting familiar with the process of the "pack" department.
The breaks were 15 , 30 and 15 breaks (well they wanted us to believe they were), and after our first 2 break and lunch had passed around 2:30am our trainer commented that we were working a 12 hour shift. Several employees commented that we were not made aware of this until just then. Our trainer explained that we would have a 25 minute break instead of 15 due to the 12 hour shift, so at that time we could go to the Integrity Customer Service desk to inquire about the shift concerns.
**THE FOLLOWING WAS HOW, WHY AND WHAT WAS SAID TO MYSELF AND 3 OTHER EMPLOYEES**
The 3rd shift (y-shift) Operations Manager; Leadership Staff for Integrity Staffing Solutions met with us briefly when we inquired with another member of the leadership team at the Customer Service desk of Integrity Staffing. Steve, the leadership team member briefly went over our concerns about the shift change from 10 hours to 12 hours.
Kyle, Ops Manager stated that it was a breakdown of communication and due to this error on their behalf, anyone who needed to leave at 5am would not receive a point for leaving early. Kyle continued to advise that our hourly rate of $12.50 per hour would not begin until the new pay period on Sunday, November 27th and that for orientation (2.5 hrs) and hours worked on November 25th and the 26th would be paid at the rate of $11.50 per hour. It was also at this time, Amanda included our time began when we swiped our badges after the tour and Kyle confirmed this to be valid. (Questions I had, but at that time in front of other associates and I also wanted to verify the documentation received from the initial hiring location that the rate per hour was disclosed and initial start time had been given in writing)
Kyle asked which ones could not stay til 7am, so it could be documented and the point waived, myself and one other associate spoke up at that time. Kyle expressed that when we reported to work the following evening, we would be required to work a 12 hour shift or if we could not the point would be applied.
Everyone returned to work at the SIOC location of the warehouse and I worked until 5am. I did return the following evening, November 26th at 6:30am and worked the entire 12 hour shift.
Wednesday, November 23, 2011 12:30pm (checked in for the 1 to 3pm mandatory orientation, at the CHA1 Amazon facility); (paid for orientation at the rate of $11.50 per hour)
Friday, November 25th; arrived at 6pm (as I was instructed so I could begin work), but officially was not paid until 7pm although I received my badge at 5:57pm;
I was paid for 9.5 hours at the rate of $11.50 per hour. (I was officially hands on - working on a line in SIOC approximately 1.25 hours prior to lunch at 11:30pm; training school was prior to the release to the floor)
*Comment* clocking in 5-7 minutes to be at your assigned area was necessary due to the walking distance from the time clock to the pack area, but the time was rounded to the 6:30 start time.
Saturday, November 26th; 6:25pm to 7am; Paid for 12 hours at the rate of $11.50 per hour (however I was working independently on a pack line)
*start of new pay period*
Sunday, November 27th, I called out ill. (I received 1.5 points for calling out)
Monday, November 28th, I worked a 10 hour shift, leaving at 5am receiving 1 point for leaving prior to 7am.
Tuesday/Wednesday off
Thursday, Friday and Saturday, I worked 12 hour shifts
Friday, December 2nd I received my 1st pay check for the 2 days and orientation.
*Having 20 years experience in the employment/staffing industry this was the first time I have ever been aware of or apart of the "no pay" for scheduled showing for employment, especially when they schedule you and the selection process was not in order of arrival, but by gender/department needs.*
Amazon.Com's, founder and C.E.O., Jeffrey Bezos cannot be aware of each aspect of his facilities, because without employees to perform the requirements necessary to ship customers orders and remain the #1 online (e-commerce) retailer.
Continue to read my next blog about Amazon.Com.
Thursday, December 29, 2011
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)
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)
CHA2 - Amazon.Com (Background)
CHA2 is one of 2 locations in the Chattanooga, TN tri-state area. Amazon.Com, negotiated with the State of Tennessee to open two warehouses in Chattanooga and Charleston, TN., in exchange for opening 2 locations the State of Tennessee waived sales tax for FIVE (5) years.
The #1 largest online retailer did create jobs for the tri-state area through both Amazon.Com and Integrity Staffing Solutions. Integrity Staffing Solutions performs all hiring needs for Amazon.Com at both CHA1 and CHA2 locations. Integrity Staffing Solutions has on-site offices to support Integrity's temporary employees.
The initial hiring process for Integrity-Amazon are as follows:
Hiring Location on Lee Hwy off of 153 in Chattanooga, performs steps 1-6 of the hiring process.
1. Walk in with copy of Drivers License, Social Security Card (or forms of id supporting the criteria for List A or from List B and C of the I'9 Immigration Form) and High school Diploma or GED transcript.
2. #1 process is verified and you are asked to go to the computers (no privacy) placed to the left of the entrance lobby to sign in and/or to register with Integrity Staffing Solutions.com. Once this has been completed you are to take a seat and wait for process 2 of 5.
3. Process 2, is a separate room were you are required to take a timed test in 2 sections. This timed test is for 10 minutes (each section) and it verifies you can recognize the codes, read the names of various products sold by Amazon and arrange them in the order for which they are sequenced based on the codes, names etc. Upon completion of process 2, you are to notify 1 of the 2 support staff in the lobby of your completion and you are sent to the next process. (the support staff verifies you past section 2 testing)
4. Process 3, basically is a separate room with 5 or more computers to enter your log in data and then you are to proceed to the next process 4. (the support staff in the front lobby provides you with documentation front and back to review, read and follow as you are watching a video about Amazon's expectations regarding physical, shift (hours), point system used for tardiness, calling out etc., performance evaluations, exercising and so forth.
5. Process 4, as mentioned above in #4 is a video that you watch while you are waiting to go through the interview process.
6. Process 5, Interview process basically is a verification of your entries on the Integrity website, going over the physical requirements of the job, performance related expectations and verification if you are able to meet the requirements as stated and if you are the next steps are payroll, areas available for placement, drug test, scheduling for orientation, shift availability and days you are scheduled to work. Picture for your badge is taken at this time and then you are asked to go back out and wait for the final process.
7. Process 6, final process is just a verification of what the interviewing staff member has went over and understanding of the entrance of the door for orientation and your first day at Amazon.Com.
Orientation at Amazon.Com is 2 to 2.5 hours long depending on questions once the PowerPoint presentations, video and understanding of how the process works. Overall, the information discusses any violation of EEOC, Civil Rights Act is not tolerated and the requirements for working at Amazon. The requirements go over the first day you are scheduled to start could result in what they call "overbooking", which means you could be sent home the first time, second time etc depending on when you arrived and how many Integrity employees arrived before you at the initial 5:30 show up time for the 6:30 shift start time. It continues to discuss breaks, security, badges, exercising, only water allowed in clear containers outside of the break room, etc .
**The scheduled shift 6:30 to 5 am (10 hour shifts)**
Overtime or Peak time scheduled shifts increased from 40 hours to 50 or 60 hours.
50 hours = 5 days (my overtime day was Thursday) all 10 hour days
60 hours = 5 days (Overtime day Thursday) all 12 hour days (6:30pm to 7am)
Please read my next blog which provides the first day and thereafter at Amazon.Com.
The #1 largest online retailer did create jobs for the tri-state area through both Amazon.Com and Integrity Staffing Solutions. Integrity Staffing Solutions performs all hiring needs for Amazon.Com at both CHA1 and CHA2 locations. Integrity Staffing Solutions has on-site offices to support Integrity's temporary employees.
The initial hiring process for Integrity-Amazon are as follows:
Hiring Location on Lee Hwy off of 153 in Chattanooga, performs steps 1-6 of the hiring process.
1. Walk in with copy of Drivers License, Social Security Card (or forms of id supporting the criteria for List A or from List B and C of the I'9 Immigration Form) and High school Diploma or GED transcript.
2. #1 process is verified and you are asked to go to the computers (no privacy) placed to the left of the entrance lobby to sign in and/or to register with Integrity Staffing Solutions.com. Once this has been completed you are to take a seat and wait for process 2 of 5.
3. Process 2, is a separate room were you are required to take a timed test in 2 sections. This timed test is for 10 minutes (each section) and it verifies you can recognize the codes, read the names of various products sold by Amazon and arrange them in the order for which they are sequenced based on the codes, names etc. Upon completion of process 2, you are to notify 1 of the 2 support staff in the lobby of your completion and you are sent to the next process. (the support staff verifies you past section 2 testing)
4. Process 3, basically is a separate room with 5 or more computers to enter your log in data and then you are to proceed to the next process 4. (the support staff in the front lobby provides you with documentation front and back to review, read and follow as you are watching a video about Amazon's expectations regarding physical, shift (hours), point system used for tardiness, calling out etc., performance evaluations, exercising and so forth.
5. Process 4, as mentioned above in #4 is a video that you watch while you are waiting to go through the interview process.
6. Process 5, Interview process basically is a verification of your entries on the Integrity website, going over the physical requirements of the job, performance related expectations and verification if you are able to meet the requirements as stated and if you are the next steps are payroll, areas available for placement, drug test, scheduling for orientation, shift availability and days you are scheduled to work. Picture for your badge is taken at this time and then you are asked to go back out and wait for the final process.
7. Process 6, final process is just a verification of what the interviewing staff member has went over and understanding of the entrance of the door for orientation and your first day at Amazon.Com.
Orientation at Amazon.Com is 2 to 2.5 hours long depending on questions once the PowerPoint presentations, video and understanding of how the process works. Overall, the information discusses any violation of EEOC, Civil Rights Act is not tolerated and the requirements for working at Amazon. The requirements go over the first day you are scheduled to start could result in what they call "overbooking", which means you could be sent home the first time, second time etc depending on when you arrived and how many Integrity employees arrived before you at the initial 5:30 show up time for the 6:30 shift start time. It continues to discuss breaks, security, badges, exercising, only water allowed in clear containers outside of the break room, etc .
**The scheduled shift 6:30 to 5 am (10 hour shifts)**
Overtime or Peak time scheduled shifts increased from 40 hours to 50 or 60 hours.
50 hours = 5 days (my overtime day was Thursday) all 10 hour days
60 hours = 5 days (Overtime day Thursday) all 12 hour days (6:30pm to 7am)
Please read my next blog which provides the first day and thereafter at Amazon.Com.
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