So I have a buddy, who in the interest of anonymity, I will give very little details about. But basically he told me today that he is working with a company at his work that has been contracted to build an apartment complex for who he believes to be Amazon.
It seems like this apartment complex is going to be for the sole purpose of housing Amazon employees. In official documentation, the project refers to the complex as "Workforce Level Housing" and is a few blocks away from a new Amazon distribution center. This information is classified, likely in the interest of protecting Amazon from the bad press they know they would get. Here are a few descriptors of the amenities he told me Amazon employees can look forward to after long days of manual labor packing boxes on the assembly line.
- Average Square Footage - 590 ft (This isn't even a major city)
- Exclusively 1BR Apartments
- No Swimming Pool
- No workout space
They're calling this place "Thrive" lol. I'm honestly not quite sure what to make of it. I have never even heard of this concept. It seems like Amazon believes it is in their best interest to be able to control the housing of their employees in addition to every other aspect of their lives. Fail a drug test? Late to work? Didn't meet your productivity goals? Well I guess you don't have healthcare or a place to live. Good luck. I swear to god, it's like they actually want people to blow their brains out.
Edit: Followed up with my friend. They've been told this housing is for Amazon employees and they are building multiple throughout the state all near distribution centers. They might not have direct ownership, but they are definitely involved.
literally feudalism
But with less job security.
Now with manufactured consent!