The intention was to counter criticism for allegations of mistreatment of employees, but the ‘meditation booth’ unleashed the fury of Internet users.
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June
7, 2021
4 min read
Given the multiple complaints that accuse Amazon of mistreatment and labor exploitation , Jeff Bezos ‘ company presented its ‘ meditation cabin ‘ . It is a space called AmaZen or Zenbooth , designed so that stressed employees can take time to improve their mental health . However, the measure unleashed the fury of Internet users , who immediately responded as they know best: with a shower of hate and memes .
On May 17, Amazon announced the WorkingWell program, the goal of which would be to make its workers feel better with a combination of “Physical and mental activities” , as well as “wellness exercises” . Part of this is the ‘Mindful Practice Room’ , some booths where they can isolate themselves when they feel overwhelmed, frustrated, sad, angry or on the verge of burnout.
AmaZen is “a quiet space where people can go and focus on their mental health and emotional well-being,” explained Leila Brown, Amazon employee and creator of the ‘meditation cabin’ in the video presentation.
It is “an interactive kiosk where you can browse a library of mental health and mindfulness practices to recharge the internal battery ,” Brown added.
[embedded content]Among the audiovisual material made available to employees are videos on mindfulness, guided meditation , positive affirmations , relaxing sounds , healthy eating tutorials and other content to help them calm down and return to their work revitalized.
The ‘wellness cabin’ was not well received
The reaction on social networks was so negative that Amazon preferred to delete the post on Twitter where ‘Zenbooth’ was announced in style.
For those who missed the context, Amazon released a commercial from a mental health booth that looked more like this pic.twitter.com/Roo8shMJh4
– Nia Zelki (@fenix_lk) May 28, 2021
But Internet users do not forgive or forget, and although the post was gone, the memes and criticism stayed. Many Internet users pointed out the irony represented by the booths, because “instead of offering better working conditions they give them a room to go cry,” wrote a Twitter user.
Amazon has gotten into the meditation booth. pic.twitter.com/XfAyQA32Tp
– Aranuelo (@Aranuel) May 28, 2021
“Amazon: No, they cannot have a break, no, they cannot get a raise, no, we will not improve their working conditions, we will not make structural changes, we will not allow them to organize and go on strike, no. However, what we will get them is a conscious practice room in the warehouse, ” wrote Mikkel Krause Frantzen (@frantzen_mikkel) on Twitter.
“I’ve seen a lot of surreal ‘corporate dystopia’ crap in my life that seems straight out of science fiction, but this takes the cake. The concept is awful, the fact that it was necessary and that it was built is truly amazing, but the last straw is the name: Mindful Practice Room. Torture.” , expressed from the account @MultiClassMage.
Several more compared the AmaZen to the ” suicide booths” that appear in an episode of the animated series ‘Futurama’.
Booths to de-stress Amazon employees.
The only booth that they would give us at the CMNO PICU: pic.twitter.com/xJNH0AeSRd– Winston Smith (@ luiseduardo2) June 4, 2021
Others remembered the episode of ‘The Simpsons’ where Milhouse takes Bart to a cave and tells him “and this is where I come to cry .”
The Simpsons predicted the Amazon cabin. pic.twitter.com/MVrxy4OL33
– Metalx (@ atletista1989) May 29, 2021
And you, what do you think of Amazon’s ‘meditation cabin’ ?