Amazon is one of the world’s largest technology companies, specialising in e-commerce, cloud computing, online advertising and digital streaming. Though often praised as an innovative innovator of its field, critics often point out Amazon’s large carbon footprint and unfair treatment of workers in fulfillment centers as major shortcomings.
Amazon recently made the announcement that they will cut hundreds of jobs across Prime Video and MGM Studios. Executive Mike Hopkins wrote a memo explaining this decision to employees in these divisions.
Amazon Prime Video
Amazon Prime Video provides customers with access to an assortment of films and TV shows exclusive to its platform as well as content from major studios and networks, along with Amazon Original movies and television shows that they pay to access. Prime Video can be accessed with any paid membership of Prime by Amazon customers.
MGM suffered financially after the Great Depression, yet still made hits such as Singin’ in the Rain, Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, and An American in Paris. But many of their lavish musicals like Brigadoon Deep In My Heart Invitation to Dance proved unsuccessful at first release.
Kirk Kerkorian purchased 40% of MGM in the 1970s and immediately implemented drastic changes. He focused its operations and direction toward hotel and casino properties while cutting film production down to five films per year; additionally he sold off its Culver City studio lot to Lorimar and combined it with United Artists.
MGM Studios
Critics who accuse it of anticompetitive practices have long called Amazon a monopoly; as evidenced by its investments in media. Recently, in an internal memo issued to employees, senior executive Mike Hopkins announced that Amazon plans to reduce “several hundred roles” at Prime Video and MGM Studios while cutting 500 positions from Twitch — its popular livestreaming service among gamers.
Prime Video will start showing ads for movies and TV shows soon; those wishing to remain ad-free must pay an additional $2.99 monthly subscription fee.
Amazon is under intense fire over how they treat workers. Testimony from workers at its US fulfillment centers paint a grim picture, where small infractions such as being late back from bathroom breaks are recorded and counted against employees. Last month, one warehouse posted a flier asking employees to write in with questions or complaints regarding working conditions to its mascot, Peccy.
Fulfillment Centers
Fulfillment centers are warehouses dedicated to order fulfillment. Not to be confused with inventory storage warehouses, fulfilment centers are highly automated with automated order processing systems designed for multichannel fulfillment.
Fulfillment centers can be invaluable resources for online stores that don’t have the manpower or capacity to fulfill orders in-house. These specialized warehouses offer services like kitting – grouping items together under a new SKU number – as well as returns management and shipping of bulky or hazardous items.
Fulfillment centers are strategically located to reach wide geographic areas quickly, which makes them essential to businesses with wide customer bases. For instance, warehouses in Knoxville or Salt Lake City can ship orders to 96% of US addresses in two days or less using technology-enhanced picking and packing processes to speed the time between purchase and shipment.
Customer Service
Amazon announced on November 7 that they are making cuts of “several hundred roles” at their Prime Video and MGM Studios divisions, according to senior vice president for both divisions, Mike Hopkins. He issued an internal memo notifying employees about this planned reduction in jobs.
Amazon recently made headlines when they announced they will begin showing ads in Prime Video starting Jan 29. To continue watching ad-free, users will have to pay an extra $2.99 monthly subscription fee – one of several measures taken against them by them in recent years, like canceling construction of its HQ2 project and scaling back its office footprint.
These cuts come as part of a company-wide initiative to invest in areas with the greatest return while decreasing spending elsewhere. As one example, they will reduce investment in virtual reality and live events while ending sponsorship of Super Bowl halftime shows, among other efforts. Employees leaving will receive severance packages and job placement support upon leaving.
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