opinion
After his space flight, Amazon founder thanked his employees: “You have paid for all of this.” A sentence that proves how unfair his world is: while the boss flies into space, the employees work down below.
Jeff Bezos was absolutely over the moon. “My expectations were high and they were exceeded dramatically,” enthused the Amazon founder when he was back on solid ground after his brief excursion into space. That was “the best day ever”. The weightlessness was a “very pleasant experience” and the view of the earth was “the most profound”.
So there are things that even the richest man in the world can still enjoy like a child. After his historic trip into space, Bezos also thought of those who made this project possible in the first place: “I would also like to thank all Amazon employees and Amazon customers,” he said at the press conference. “Because you paid for all of this. That’s why I thank you from the bottom of my heart.” The sentence caused laughter in the audience – in reality it shows how cynical Jeff Bezos’ space trip is.
Criticism of working conditions at Amazon
The so praised employees of Amazon are likely to have only drawn their lips bitterly. It has been known for many years how bad the working conditions at the company are. Although Amazon is committed to being – as Bezos says – “the best employer in the world”, the reality is different. Amazon had to admit that it does happen that delivery drivers have to go inside because they are under enormous time pressure during their work. Employees are at work with video cameras and in their private lives via social networks on the Internet. Many also come because they must be afraid of losing their jobs.
In Germany, too, there has been repeated criticism of the company’s conduct. There are regular strikes among the workforce, who are demanding better pay. During the pandemic, Amazon tried to make them take fewer breaks. Amazon employees also complain about the high pressure from superiors, even if the company regularly rejects such allegations.
Jeff Bezos is getting richer even in space
In addition, Amazon hardly pays taxes in many parts of the world. With various tricks, the Internet giant manages to minimize its taxes despite high income. Even under the now targeted global minimum tax for large corporations, Amazon should not fall, as the company may not officially reach the necessary profitability limit – despite increasing sales in the past year. Jeff Bezos himself is said to have paid in the United States in a few years.
Bezos’ incredible wealth came in large part at the expense of his staff and the tax community. The result is only logical: the boss flies into space, the employees toil downstairs. You shouldn’t expect more than warm words after the space flight. Bezos, on the other hand, has not only fulfilled his big dream, but has also continued to earn a lot of money over the years. As the British has calculated, the 57-year-old has become more than 1.5 million dollars richer during his eleven-minute flight with the Blue Origin rocket alone.
Jane Stock is a technology author, who has written for 24 Hours World. She writes about the latest in technology news and trends, and is always on the lookout for new and innovative ways to improve his audience’s experience.
