Well-Being Mental Health

Social media blasts Amazon’s mental health effort as ‘despair closet’

by Jenna Romaine | May 28, 2021 | May. 28, 2021

Story at a glance

  • Amazon introduced a new mental health booth called “AmaZen,” on Thursday, announcing it would be installed in an Amazon warehouse.
  • The tiny booth, with a kiosk that plays mental health videos, is supposed to be a place for employees to “focus on their mental well-being.”
  • Social media was quick to mock the initiative, highlighting grievances with the company’s treatment of its workforce.

Amazon faced swift backlash on social media on Thursday after releasing a video introducing “AmaZen,” a tiny, rectangular booth being installed in an Amazon warehouse where employees can go to “focus on their mental well-being.”

Inside there are a few fake plants and an interactive kiosk that offers videos for workers to view on “mental health” and “mindfulness practices.”

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On social media, people were quick to mock the company’s initiative. 

Some directed their criticism toward Amazon’s history of aggressively opposing unionization within its U.S. warehouses. 

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Others joked that Amazon would charge its employees for use of the booth.

Several Twitter users also highlighted critical issues facing its employees, such as allegations of a lack of bathroom access, unsafe working conditions and infrequent breaks for workers who spend hours on their feet.

The company hasn’t issued a response to the backlash at this time.

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