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Amazon’s High Warehouse Injury Rate Calls for Increased Government Scrutiny

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Amazon has a much higher warehouse injury rate than its competitors, a recent analysis by The Strategic Organizing Center, a coalition of labor unions, found. Full-time U.S. Amazon warehouse employees were injured at a rate of  6.5 injuries per 100 employees in 2020, compared to 4 injuries per 100 full-time employees at all non-Amazon warehouses. The company’s emphasis on speed and pressurized production demands is to blame. Finally, government officials are now making moves to improve health and safety laws for Amazon warehouse workers. 

High injury rate

Amazon’s injury rate is over double that of Walmart’s, it’s biggest competitor, and Amazon employees are injured more severely, too. 5.9 serious injuries per 100 Amazon warehouse workers occurred in 2020 —  a rate almost 80% higher than the rest of the warehouse industry. Amazon warehouse workers with lost-time injuries also spent an average of 46.3 days off work, a recovery time one week greater than average in the warehouse industry and two weeks greater than the recovery time for other workers. Injury rates also differ across the country. For example, in Houston, Amazon warehouse workers sustain an average of 6.1 serious injuries per 100 workers. Fortunately, a Houston industrial injury lawyer can work with injured employees to help them win compensation to cover the cost of medical bills and lost wages.

Amazon blocks safety inspections 

Amazon has also repeatedly attempted to block safety inspections. For example, in order to evaluate Amazon’s health and safety practices, Washington state hired ergonomics experts. When the experts arrived at an Amazon warehouse, Amazon told their workers to leave their stations and not to comply before barring the experts from reentry.“In light of Amazon refusing to allow the Department to collect data and monitor employees without interference, a warrant is necessary,” a state compliance officer said in a court document. The state’s request for a warrant was approved and Amazon was ordered to permit safety inspections.

New laws 

Fortunately, Washington lawmakers have introduced a new bill prohibiting unsafe warehouse work quotas that “interfere with rest and meal periods, bathroom breaks, and other health and safety regulations”. Complaints will be investigated by Washington’s Department of Labor & Industries and citations issued if needed. California and Minnesota have also passed similar laws with other states following in their footsteps. Moreover, the federal government plans to conduct an audit to clarify how OSHA is addressing worker injuries. Although Amazon isn’t directly named in the official plan, stores offering high-speed shipping are singled out: “To accomplish such speedy deliveries, warehouses around the nation have been forced to work ever faster, and some have reported increased pressure to meet production quotas. This may be having a significant impact on the health and safety of warehouse workers.” 

It’s high time Amazon faced legal pressure to improve worker safety. Although states are moving to hold the business accountable, it’s yet to be seen whether Amazon will adjust its core practices.

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Five Things Employees Look for in a Job Role

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The world of work has been changing lately. While technological developments and paradigm shifts in business models have changed the landscape of work globally, workers both globally and nationally have found their worth and their voice. Despite the rise of AI and automation, the worker is worth more than ever, and some businesses are struggling as a result. What is it that employees look for in a role today, and how might a business adopt them to improve their own employee turnover?

Flexibility

One of the most important factors to workers today is flexibility. This has been borne out by the runaway popularity of remote and hybrid working schemes, which were introduced as a result of the coronavirus pandemic in 2020. With businesses demonstrating that remote work is possible without impacting productivity, more workers today expect accommodations for remote work as a standard part of their contract.

Stability

Stability is another major factor that employees bear in mind when considering a role. It can appear in two distinct ways: a comfortable wage, and guaranteed job security. Offering a competitive wage means employees can worry less about their living standards or future, allowing them to settle into their role. A robust development pipeline and internal career trajectory can also show employees that staying would be to their benefit.

Benefits

Salary alone is not enough to entice applicants to a job today, though. It is also necessary for a role to offer a number of competitive perks and benefits in order to sweeten the deal. These can range from small perks to major additions. On the smaller side, healthcare workers might get a Nandos NHS discount as a small token; on the more essential side, workers might get offered private healthcare coverage for themselves and their family.

Trust

Trust as a factor touches on the company culture within and office or department, and the management style of both middle and executive managers. If an employee feels micromanaged by their line manager or any superior, they are less likely to feel trusted in their role, and more likely to look for somewhere that is a better fit. A conversational management style and a transparent structure for departments can go a long way to demonstrating trust.

Shared Values

This last factor is one that has gained prescience in recent years, as employees seek to match their personal values with their career trajectory. Social justice and good causes can form interstitial parts of an employee’s identity, and in an age where information is more readily available than ever, workers are able to see the impacts a business has outside of its secondary role as ‘job-giver’.

With a principled workforce unwilling to tacitly lend credence to damaging acts or activities – key focuses at present being the climate crisis and rising racial tensions -, individual job-seekers are seeking roles where their values are shared by their prospective employer. This is both to pressure organisations into adopting those values, and to ensure that their own are not being compromised in their professional lives.

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Tow Truck Training: 5 Tips to Select the Right Course and What Can You Expect

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If you are looking for a career in the tow truck industry, selecting the right training course is crucial. Many different schools and programs are available, so it can be challenging to decide which one is right for you.

This blog post will get five tips for selecting the right tow truck training course. Read ahead to know what you can expect from these courses and how they can help you start your career in this field.

What Does It Entail?

If you’re interested in becoming a tow truck driver, you’ll need to complete a training program. The programs are typically offered at community colleges or technical schools. During the training, you’ll learn how to operate a tow truck safely and secure and transport vehicles properly.

You’ll learn about State and Federal Regulations governing the industry. Upon completing the training program, you’ll be prepared to take the state-licensed exam and begin your career immediately.

Types of Training Programs Available

There are many different types of tow trucking training programs available. Some are designed for those who already have experience in the industry, while others are meant for those new to the field.

The programs may cater to specific vehicles, such as those used in heavy-duty construction or logging. No matter your experience level or desired type of truck, there is a course that helps you get the skills you need to succeed.

Similarly, some programs may last only a few days, while others may span several weeks or months. The length of the program will often depend on the type of truck you wish to operate and the level of experience you already have. Many programs will include classroom and hands-on instruction to give you the complete education possible.

Benefits of Joining Training Programs 

Tow trucking training programs offer many benefits for those seeking a career in the industry. Perhaps the most apparent benefit is learning from experienced drivers.

These programs provide an opportunity to learn the ins and outs of the job, from the proper way to hook up a vehicle to the safest way to transport it. In addition, the programs often offer their students access to a fleet of trucks to get real-world experience before they even start looking for a job.

And finally, they can help students network with other people in the industry, leading to better job opportunities.

Selecting the Right Training Program 

With so many different tow truck training programs available, it can be challenging to decide which one is right for you. Here are a few tips to help you select the right program:

  1. Accredited by a Reputable Organization: Make sure the program you select is accredited by a reputable organization, such as the National Truck Equipment Association (NTEA).
  1. Offers Classroom and Hands-On Instruction: Look for a program that offers classroom and hands-on instruction. It will ensure that you get a complete education.
  1. Fits Your Schedule: Choose a program that fits your schedule. If you’re working full-time, you’ll need to find a program that offers evening or weekend classes.
  1. Affordable: Make sure the program you select is affordable. There are many programs available, so be sure to shop around for the best price.
  1. Length of the Program: Consider the length of the program. Some programs may last only a few days, while others may span several weeks or months. Choose a program that fits your needs and schedule.

What to Expect from Training Programs? 

Tow truck training programs are designed to give you the skills and knowledge you need to succeed in the tow truck industry. During the program, you’ll learn about truck safety, vehicle loading and unloading, proper use of towing equipment like winches and straps, and defensive driving techniques.

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How to Find Online Job: Options that Require Little or No Work Experience (that are truly fun!)

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In today’s world, earning money online has become increasingly popular. For many years, commuting to the office and going out to work was the only way to make a living. However, things changed with the evolution of technology, as this resulted in tehnological advancements that were embraced by many industries.

Working from home now has become extremely popular. Many companies have implemented hybrid and remote models so that employees can enjoy the flexibility to work from anywhere.

Here, we will discuss online jobs that require little to no experience to get started – and they can be fun as well!

These are jobs for absolute beginners as well, so if you have the right skill set but no prior work experience, we’ve got your back! So, let’s see the different online jobs you can consider, and hopefully, we’ll help you narrow down your choices when making applications.

OnlyFans

You don’t need any special expertise or work experience to be part of the OnlyFans community. You just need to sign up on the platform, create the content and start connecting with your fans.

Even as an absolute beginner, you can earn pretty well. The living proof is the fact that even OnlyFans amateurs earn a lot on this platform by creating content and interacting with their fans.

So, don’t worry if you lack social media experience or have very limited knowledge regarding the platform or the type of content you should post. All it takes is thorough research, a willingness to keep up with the latest social media trends, and a compelling niche to keep your fans interested and entertained.

Web Design

Working in the web design industry comes with some challenges. Having said that, even though you need a certain set of skills to start working as a web designer or web developer, you can land a job even without prior working experience.

If you’ve just finished college or a web development academy, but you have no work experience on your resume, start applying for small web design jobs online. You can then build a portfolio, and once you’ve created a portfolio, you can start applying for bigger projects.

The first step toward becoming a web developer is using coding boot camps to fast-track the learning process. The practical advantages of such boot camps are numerous, as you can:

  • Network with like-minded individuals
  • Expand your horizons
  • Work on your problem-solving skills
  • Improve your communication skills

As you continue diving deeper into the web development industry, you will need to choose a development specialization. The web development industry is categorized into:

  • Front-end development – pertaining to the “client-side” of the process, such as the design, layout, and functionality of the site
  • Back-end development – focuses on the “server-side” of the process, such as servers, hosting, networks, databases, and more
  • Full stack development – needs to have knowledge in both areas

But don’t worry; you can choose a specialization and focus on one of these categories once you’ve started working in web development.

Content Writing

Content writing is another popular yet fun option where you can earn money online with little to no prior work experience. Let’s get it clear from the beginning – you do need certain skills to be successful as a content writer, even if you don’t have work experience.

Thus, if you’re a self-motivated individual with a passion for creating content for the web, blogs, technical documents, reviews, advertisements, or scripts, this is the job for you.

Blogging

You don’t need any particular experience to kick off your career as a blogger. If you have a topic area or a subject you’re passionate about and would like to share it with others, you can start your own blog.

The most profitable blogs are those that provide value to the readers, so make sure you choose a relevant topic and create high-quality content. After you’ve created your blog, you can place ads on specialized blogs, promote the blog on various social media platforms, or even incorporate pay-per-click advertising.

According to Good Financial Cents, the best blogging niches are:

  • Investments
  • Cars and car repair services
  • Credit cars
  • Travel
  • Fashion
  • Real estate
  • Entertainment

As we mentioned earlier, make sure you choose a relevant topic that you are passionate about. This way, you can engage people and attract a larger number of visitors to your blog, which will turn your blog into a profit-generating one.

Advice to Get Started

All of these job opportunities require little to no prior experience to get started. Here are a couple of tips before you start applying for certain jobs:

  • Be persistent – do not even think of giving up
  • Make it happen – don’t let all of that hard work you put into learning new skills go to waste
  • Keep hustling

This is your chance to generate a good income, so start applying!

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