Life and Death in the Warehouse

Taal: NL
Categorie:

The post-pandemic boom in online shopping has led to an explosion of warehouse jobs, with around one million people working in distribution centres across the UK. In many "left behind" towns, warehouse work is now the most realistic option for young people leaving education. Hidden behind a firewall of paranoid secrecy, distribution centres are the Victorian workhouses of the present day. "Associates" (workers) are subjected to a totalitarian regime, in which "idle time" (toilet breaks and conversations) is constantly measured, and a "pick rate" (typically 120 items per hour) is enforced with 24-hour surveillance, disciplinary hearings and ruthless "off-boarding" (sacking.) In the "customer- fixated" culture of distribution centres, worker-abuse is now widespread. Pregnant women routinely fall below their target pick rates and are subjected to constant CCTV and algorithmic surveillance, "self enhancement plans" and obsessive monitoring. Inspired by real-world events from Britain and around the world, Life and Death in the Warehouse tells the story of a young Welsh worker Alys, who falls pregnant. Her childhood friend Megan joins the warehouse on a fast-track manager scheme and is given the task of getting Alys' pick rate back up. Will Megan drink the corporate Kool Aid to hang onto her job? And is she prepared to put Alys' pregnancy at risk?