“For implementing a highly intrusive employee activity and performance monitoring system”Amazon France Logistic was fined 32 million euros by the National Commission for Information Technology and Liberties (CNIL) on December 27th.
For example, the collection of data by scanners used by warehouse employees to process packages a “Overactivity and Performance Monitoring System”, “Leading the employee to justify every break or interruption possible”. These scanners record idle times of over ten minutes or the rate at which packages are processed. The CNIL also judges “All data collected by the system, as well as the resulting statistical indicators, for all employees and temporary workers, excessive to keep them for thirty-one days.”
“We strongly disagree with the findings of the CNIL which are factually incorrect and we reserve the right to appeal”Amazon responded in a press release, arguing that “The use of warehouse management systems is a common industry practice: it is necessary to ensure the safety, quality and efficiency of operations and to ensure inventory tracking and package processing on time and in accordance with customer expectations. The group has two months to file an appeal before the Council of State.
A system of “constant pressure” on employees
The French privacy watchdog sanctioned Amazon France Logistics based on the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and imposed a fine of around 3% of the French company’s turnover. an approval “Virtually Unprecedented”She emphasized to Agence France-Presse (AFP), which is a maximum fine of 4% of turnover.
Three indicators recorded by the scanner and transmitted to managers particularly attracted the attention of the control body. The “Stove Machine Gun” which records when an item is scanned “too fast”In less than 1.25 seconds, and the“idle time” which indicates a period of scanner inactivity for more than ten minutes.
Another indicator measures elapsed time “Between the moment when the employee is badged at the entrance to the site” And where it scanned its first package, CNIL further explained to AFP.
The body believes that this system leads employees to justify any disruption “three or four minutes”The activity of its scanner, thus makes “Put them under constant pressure”.
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Several thousand employees are affected by these indicators, notes the CNIL, which launched a process in 2019 following press articles and employee complaints.
The CNIL also cited the online commerce specialist’s French subsidiary for not adequately informing its employees about its video surveillance system. she told AFP “Reserve possibility to conduct fresh inquiry”.
