This week, New York Governor Kathy Hochul signed the Warehouse Worker Protection Act which will require major warehouse companies to give its new and current employees clear documentation about productivity work speed quotas and expectations.
Lender Center Co-Director and Associate Professor of Sociology Gretchen Purser
Gretchen Purser, associate professor of sociology and the co-director of the Lender Center for Social Justice at Syracuse University, provides reaction to the news which can be quoted directly. She can also be reached for interviews.
Purser says:
“This is an important piece of legislation, signed into law precisely at a time when warehouse workers across the state are working furiously to process the crush of last-minute holiday purchases. This bill would amend state labor law to offer protection to workers from unreasonable production quotas.
“Amazon workers, for example, have long complained that they are held to unreasonable quotas that make even going to the bathroom difficult, lest they are clocked for too much time ‘off task.’ This bill underscores the fact that workers must be able to meet their basic human needs by taking a break to eat or to use the bathroom.
That such legislation is even necessary is revealing of the disposability and lack of decency with which far too many workers are treated on the job.”
To request interviews or get more information:
Daryl Lovell
Associate Director of Media Relations
Division of Communications
M 315.380.0206
dalovell@syr.edu | @DarylLovell
The Nancy Cantor Warehouse, 350 W. Fayette St., 4th Fl., Syracuse, NY 13202
news.syr.edu | syracuse.edu
Syracuse University
