According to Bloomberg, Amazon's Flex contract delivery driver fleet has already had to deal with many indignities. Now, they can be hired or fired by algorithms.Amazon has millions of subcontracted drivers to ensure that Flex deliveries, which began in 2015, arrive on time. The app allows drivers to sign up for a driver's job via their smartphone. They can coordinate deliveries, choose shifts and report any problems. However, technology is not the only thing that drives driver engagement. They are also monitored for performance and can be fired using algorithms without much human intervention.According to the report, however, workers can be fired without cause. One worker claimed that her rating, which ranged from Fantastic, Great to Fair or At Risk, fell when she had to stop deliveries because of a nail in her tire. Over the next few weeks, she managed to raise it to Great. However, her account was terminated by Amazon for violating its terms of service. Although she contested her firing, the company refused to reinstate her.There is no support for any issue. You are against the machine so don't even try.Another driver couldn't deliver packages to an apartment building because the gate was locked and the residents weren't answering their phones. An Amazon locker in another building failed to open. He also lost his rating and spent six weeks trying again to get it up. Finally, he was fired because he had fallen below a certain level.Many drivers feel that they have no recourse if they feel wrongly terminated. To contest terminations, drivers must pay $200. Many have stated that it is not worth the effort. Cope, 29, said that there is no support for any issue. You are against the machine so don't even try.Amazon however has deemed the program a success. A former engineer who worked with the program said so. The numbers prove that this is true. According to the report, the app has been downloaded by around 4 million drivers worldwide, including 2.9 million in America. The app has been downloaded by more than 660,000 Americans in the past five months.Amazon claimed that claims by Flex drivers of unfair termination and poor treatment were speculative and not representative of their experience. Spokesperson Kate Kudrna stated that we have made significant investments in technology and resources to give drivers visibility into their status and eligibility to continue delivering. We also investigate all appeals.
