this post was submitted on 03 Jan 2025
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A Boring Dystopia

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"He was coming so fast, there wasn't any time to move all the way out the way"

Scott-Windham returned to Mobile Wednesday night with the bullet still in her foot, along with multiple fractures.

She'll need to return to an orthopedist in two weeks to check on her foot. But the Amazon warehouse where she works denied her request for a leave of absence, and she worries she'll have to find a new job once she's recovered.

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[–] [email protected] 172 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago) (4 children)

The denial of leave - after being shot in the foot by a mass shooter - was so inconsequential to the reporter that it barely warranted a mention in the second-to-last paragraph.

[–] [email protected] 49 points 2 weeks ago (2 children)

That was the main reason I wanted to post this with the title I used. I felt like the corporate mistreatment part of the story wasn't being heard.

[–] [email protected] 10 points 2 weeks ago

Oh, agreed and understood. I just was putting an exclamation point on it.

[–] [email protected] 8 points 2 weeks ago

It isn't corporate mistreatment of the story.

It's manufacturing consent for the corporate ruled plutocracy.

[–] [email protected] 10 points 2 weeks ago

But the story isn't one of medical leave, as important as that is: it was about the incident and her experience, but not her recovery.

News articles follow a common format, and the detail about her shit boss isn't one that fits the straight-line narrative of "survives horrible ordeal against madman killing with gun and truck but traumatized, child also safe". With editing how it is, a ruthless editor even without an agenda may just as easily pruned that detail.

I'm sorry it wasn't the thesis in this piece, but I'm glad it was kept in where it can be quoted later -- like it is here, where we can add it to the buzz. This is really a best outcome for a piece based around a different narrative. I hope she gets a better job soon.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 2 weeks ago

Maybe the author felt that it was what any reader would have expected in the US, so it wasn't worth it to linger on the fact.

[–] [email protected] 0 points 2 weeks ago

Which is so bizarre because when I worked for them, they would let me come in late as often as I wanted to, and take as much leave as I needed.

I went on so many mental health breaks when I worked for them. It was nice to have.

[–] [email protected] 109 points 2 weeks ago (2 children)

'murica! Everyone thinks if anything happens to you you'll be able to work things out. Here in 'murica you're on your own entirely. I'm going to guess that Amazon is denying her FMLA because she hasn't been there 12 months and therefore are not legally required to. Another great way to scare people into staying at the same shitty job.

[–] [email protected] 13 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago) (1 children)

Many people in America think this is how it is everywhere else in the world. That in itself is a form of American exceptionalism

[–] [email protected] 8 points 2 weeks ago

Here in Romania, the state pays for your salary during medical leave so it's not a burden to the company (between 75% and 100% of the salary depending on the medical reason, for up to 180 days. There are other social nets beyond the 180 days). Of course, there is a tax for that that everyone pays, so it's like a state-run insurance fund, but unlike private insurance they can't deny it.

[–] [email protected] 8 points 2 weeks ago (2 children)

The employer isn't required to let sick people be sick?? Or are they only required to grant unpaid sick leave?

This is hard for me to wrap my head around. Here, if a new employee gets sick within the first 8 weeks, the employer can get the pay partially refunded. But the employer must always pay in full during sick leave.

[–] [email protected] 9 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

Lol, here it is unpaid leave. She was denied unpaid leave. Amazon is reserving the right to fire her for being a victim.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

I have no words for this. I'm... That's... It's just... Wow.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 2 weeks ago

If it’s any solace, it’s nothing personal. The line must go up! Legally required!

[–] [email protected] 4 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago) (1 children)

FMLA is a law that protects employees’ jobs while they’re on unpaid medical leave, but you need to be at the job for at least 12 months before it kicks in.

Basically, Amazon denied her unpaid medical leave, (basically just a leave of absence, since it’s unpaid), because she hasn’t been there long enough to be covered by FMLA. So if she takes the leave anyways, she’ll be fired. Basically, they’re threatening to fire her for being a victim, because they’re not legally obligated to keep her job held while she recovers.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 2 weeks ago

Thank you for the explanation.

[–] [email protected] 88 points 2 weeks ago
[–] [email protected] 60 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago)

Fuck Amazon and fuck every worm that commits daily atrocities behind that name.

[–] [email protected] 53 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)
[–] [email protected] 9 points 2 weeks ago

Could not have said it better.

I could list all issues with it, but I've done that so manyntimes already, it's like arguing with a crazy person, doesn't get you anywhere.

At this point, all you can do is say that the US is a sad joke, and move on

[–] [email protected] 50 points 2 weeks ago (3 children)

Losing your job because of an illness or injury is normal for hourly waged employees in the US. It's possible a union could have prevented this.

[–] [email protected] 31 points 2 weeks ago

It's very normal (in the US) but not in any way right.

[–] [email protected] 7 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago)

I started a new job as a restaurant host once. The day after my first shift I got violently ill, puked everywhere. I called them up and told them I had the flu and could not work. They never scheduled me again and didn’t pay me for my first shift.

[–] [email protected] 7 points 2 weeks ago

They do here.

If you fire someone just for getting sick, you can expect the union to sue you. They have really good lawyers. Your best option is to settle out of court. And now you are not popular with the union, giving you less leeway in the next case.

It just easier and cheaper to do the right thing, which includes documentation of how you did your best to make it work.

[–] [email protected] 33 points 2 weeks ago

Stop buying amazon as much as possible. Just use them to find the product you want then order it from the manufacturer webpage. Thx 4 da reviews amazon, but I'm going with director to conshumer.

[–] [email protected] 30 points 2 weeks ago (2 children)

~~1984~~ cyberpunk was supposed to be satire not a model

[–] [email protected] 18 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

Hate to break it to you, but gross labor exploitation has been going on a long, long time.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 2 weeks ago (2 children)

why do you hate to break it to us ?

[–] [email protected] 4 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago)

I should be glad to inform that labor exploitation has been going on since long before 1984 and/or Cyberpunk dystopia fiction?

[–] [email protected] 2 points 2 weeks ago

They're being ironic. They're one of the ones holding the whips and they actually love to break it to us.

[–] [email protected] 6 points 2 weeks ago

It was a warning, not an aspiration!

[–] [email protected] 8 points 2 weeks ago (3 children)
[–] GrumpyDuckling 13 points 2 weeks ago

Probably New Orleans attack on new years

[–] FilthyHands 6 points 2 weeks ago

New Orleans

[–] [email protected] 1 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago)

Insurance claim process?

[–] [email protected] 7 points 2 weeks ago

How hard would she have to kick someone to lodge it into thier ass from her foot? Sorry, I'm kinda buzzed..

[–] [email protected] 6 points 2 weeks ago

False flags aren’t covered as an excuse.

[–] [email protected] -5 points 2 weeks ago

was ran

\facepalm